The impact of welfare reforms on housing associations A scoping study

This report presents the key findings of an exploratory, scoping study which has explored the impact of welfare reforms on housing associations. Drawing on qualitative data generated from in-depth interviews with housing association Chief Executives, Directors and senior managers and key ‘stakeholders’, the research presented here builds on an evidence review of their impact, which has been published alongside this report.

The report focuses on the impact of five welfare reforms in particular: Universal Credit; the Benefit Cap; the Benefit Freeze; Size Criteria; and, the one per cent Rent Reduction, which was introduced under the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016. It also explores the impact of tenancy reforms (Fixed Term Tenancies; Affordable Rent) as they have important interactions with welfare reforms. The report outlines a future research agenda for work in this area and highlights key learning for housing associations, Government, and regulators of housing associations.

This is the first report to be produced under the ‘Wider Drivers’ theme.