Contact:Chris O’LearyEmail:C.OLeary@mmu.ac.uk

What is driving homelessness from the private rented sector, and what are the policy and practice implications of this? Find out at the launch of new research on homelessness from the private rented sector, which was commissioned by the Residential Landlords’ Association (RLA) and undertaken by researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University. Following a launch event in Parliament, this event will discuss findings on what is driving homelessness from the private rented sector, as well as outline a series of recommendations for government, local authorities, landlord representatives and others interested in tackling this major social issue.

Homelessness has a devastating effect on those who experience it, and is costly to the public purse. Knowing what is driving recent increases in homelessness from the private rented sector is key to understanding what policy and other changes are necessary to address this problem.

Much policy and wider debate about the private rented sector is London-centric. There is no single private rented sector, nor will a one-size-fits-all policy response work. In particular, some local authorities could do more to work actively and positively with their local private rented sector, and more support is needed to households who are placed in the private rented sector by local authorities discharging their homelessness duties.

The research was commissioned by the Residential Landlords’ Association, and undertaken by Dr Chris O’Leary, Dr Susan O’Shea and Professor Kevin Albertson from the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University. The research was conducted between April 2017 and July 2018, and involved a rapid review of the existing literature, research and data; interviews with sixteen key stakeholders representing landlords, policy makers, and homeless charities; a survey of around 1850 landlords; and, a Delphi survey of key stakeholders.