The study team has published its first emerging insights briefing, which has been written by Emma Bimpson, Paul Hickman and Kesia Reeve. Briefings allow rapid communication of emerging research findings, learning points, and offer timely contributions to ongoing debates in policy and practice. The briefing highlights the key insights to emerge from in-depth interviews with 16 representatives of organisations with a stake in the study area. The key insights were:
- The cost-of-living crisis is compounding financial pressures that have been building for some years, meaning that for many low income households, a tipping point may have been reached.
- Some population groups have been, and will be, disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis, welfare reforms and a “hostile” benefit environment.
- The nature and form of landlord/ tenant communications impacts on rent arrears by influencing tenants’ rent (re)payment behaviour.
- A broad understanding of ‘tenancy sustainment’ is needed to recognise that is it about more than just paying the rent.
- The financial pressures on households, such as the cost-of-living crisis and welfare reforms, also bear down on social landlords.
