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Policy Library

Policy, research and good practice work forms a major part of Shelter's efforts to address and find solutions for homelessness and housing issues.

Shelter response to DLUHC competence and conduct standard consultation

Evidence to the Grenfell Inquiry revealed how a lack of appropriate staff training contributed to the tragedy. After 6 years of campaigning by Grenfell United and tenant campaigners, with the support of Shelter, the Social Housing (Regulation) Act finally became law on 20 July 2023. The Act included a power to set a new standard for registered providers of social homes on the competence and conduct of senior staff providing housing management services, including contracted service providers. The management of social housing should aim for a gold standard in how all rented homes are managed. Social housing management must again be seen as a respected and valued profession, delivering an essential public service. The new Competence and Conduct Standard is a vital aspect of this to drive the necessary culture change required for meaningful improvements in the quality of housing management services and the experience of tenants.

Published: 2 April 2024

Shelter response to DLUHC competence and conduct standard consultation

Briefing: Putting on the stabilisers - Protecting private renters from unaffordable rent rises

The Renters Reform Bill offers a crucial opportunity to tackle a major cause of instability in England’s private rented sector, the lack of regulation of rent increases. Sensible measures to stabilise the rate at which rents increase during a tenancy would balance tenants’ right to a secure, affordable and stable home with landlords’ need to reasonably cover cost increases.

Published: 25 March 2024

Briefing: Putting on the stabilisers - Protecting private renters from unaffordable rent rises

Briefing note: Managed migration to universal credit

Shelter briefing on the managed migration of people claiming legacy housing benefit to universal credit in 2024.

Published: 21 March 2024

Briefing note: Managed migration to universal credit

Briefing: Social homes – building thriving communities and safer streets

Investment in a new generation of social rent homes is an investment in our communities and in crime prevention. The delivery of 90,000 social rent homes a year will provide access to safe, well-managed and genuinely affordable homes, helping to build stable, supportive neighbourhoods which offer the security and autonomy for communities to flourish.

Published: 20 March 2024

Briefing: Social homes – building thriving communities and safer streets

Shelter response to Awaab’s Law Consultation on timescales for repairs in the social rented sector

Awaab Ishak died in Rochdale on 21 December 2020, only a week after his 2nd birthday. The coroner’s report (November 2022) cited the cause of his death as a severe respiratory condition (acute airway oedema with severe granulomatous tracheobronchitis) due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home. Awaab’s Law is a testament to the strength and determination of Awaab’s parents, Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Amin, that Awaab’s legacy must be that no other family should lose their child due to hazardous conditions in their rented home. If lessons are to be learned from Awaab’s case, it’s vital that government introduce them urgently and robustly to ensure social landlords address hazardous conditions quickly and in an effective manner.

Published: 5 March 2024

Shelter response to Awaab’s Law Consultation on timescales for repairs in the social rented sector

Research: The economic impact of building social housing

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) has been commissioned by Shelter and the National Housing Federation (NHF) to assess the economic and social impacts of building 90,000 social homes.

Published: 27 February 2024

Research: The economic impact of building social housing

Social housing - a prescription for better health and wellbeing

In the first briefing of a general election focused series we explore the link between housing and health. How homelessness kills. How half of private renters are worried about paying the rent. And how poor housing conditions cost the NHS £1.4 billion a year.

Published: 14 February 2024

Social housing - a prescription for better health and wellbeing

Homelessness in England 2023

A research report documenting the scale of homelessness in England in 2023

Published: 14 December 2023

Homelessness in England 2023

Evidence submission: Shelter submission for the Autumn Statement 2023

Shelter calls on the Chancellor to end the damaging housing benefit freeze which is driving record homelessness.

Published: 1 November 2023

Evidence submission: Shelter submission for the Autumn Statement 2023

Briefing: Second Reading of the Renters (Reform) Bill

Shelter strongly welcomes second reading of this long-awaited bill, and is campaigning to ensure that it is passed swiftly and is robust enough to provide private renters with genuine security and safety in their homes, as well as proper protection against discrimination.

Published: 20 October 2023

Briefing: Second Reading of the Renters (Reform) Bill