Empty Homes
Fordham Research welcomes the increasing interest in this area of housing policy. Our interest in the topic is a logical extension of our work in assessing the need for affordable housing. Bringing empty homes back into use can make an important contribution to meeting the need for additional housing as well as boosting the local economy.
Our housing needs and market assessments as well as our stock condition surveys can all act as a vehicle to inform the empty homes strategies and interventions in an area. We also have the experience and skills to plan and execute projects geared to meeting individual clients problems on this topic.
Empty homes, housing needs assessments and strategic housing market assessments
Needs and market assessments not only assess need and demand information but they also assess affordability and market conditions. Our analysis can provide a detailed economic assessment about the market conditions for bringing empty homes back into use.
Assessments can also indicate the characteristics of households that might benefit from an empty homes initiative.
Our household surveys can also be used to assess public opinion towards empty homes and help local authorities to gauge where initiatives should lie in their housing strategy priorities.
We will work closely with clients to ensure that our basic survey design is tailored to provide as much information as possible to inform empty homes strategies and action plans.
Empty homes and stock condition surveys
Our market leading approach to quality in this area enables us to offer stock condition surveys that are very accurate in assessing the prevalence of empty homes in an area and the costs associated with bringing them up to a decent standard of repair. Whilst our work in this field indicates that empty homes will have on average significantly higher levels of disrepair than occupied housing, it is often the case that repairs and improvement costs are not as prohibitive as is often thought.
The social survey element of a stock condition survey can also inform clients of local attitudes towards empty homes.
We will work closely with clients to ensure that our basic survey design is tailored to provide as much information as possible to inform empty homes strategies and action plans.
This work can be expanded to provide clients with a move detailed picture of all known empty homes. We have worked on projects involving a physical survey of all empty dwellings in the area, providing authorities with a clear priority list in terms of issues such as costs, market factors and property size. Such a method allows us to explore a priority list for all dwellings in terms of bringing them back into use.
Empty homes, regeneration and sustainability
We can combine elements of the above into studies that focus on areas displaying housing stress. If desired we can apply the Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment methodology. We are skilled and experienced in doing this. We have a particular interest in public consultation. Our studies can make a significant contribution to understanding what is driving housing stress or housing market weakness.
Bespoke empty homes research
We are happy to design and carry out alternative methodologies possibly involving surveys of owners or desktop studies drawing on data that already exists.
Contact for empty homes
To discuss your requirements informally please email either Anna Simpson or Graham Field, or call 020 7289 3988.