LSE Covid research: Can you help?
Coronavirus and its impact on landlords and tenants, is the subject of a new study by researchers from the London School of Economics (LSE).
The team will be looking at how the pandemic, in combination with policy and tax changes, is affecting the behaviour of individual private landlords and rents and conditions for tenants.
They will use the findings to make policy recommendations.
The project, funded by Trust for London is focusing on three London neighbourhoods: Ilford (in the London Borough of Redbridge, Thamesmead North in Bexley and Walworth and the Old Kent Road in Southwark.
Lead researcher, Kath Scanlon said: “The coronavirus pandemic suddenly and dramatically changed the environment for landlords and tenants.
“Many tenants have experienced sharp reductions of income, rent arrears are increasing, and the government instituted a six-month ban on evictions.
“In addition, a number of recent policy initiatives affected landlords’ business models and the profitability of investment in the PRS.
“They include selective licensing in certain neighbourhoods, reduced tax deductibility for mortgage interest for buy-to-let landlords and a 3% surcharge on rental property purchases.
“Welfare changes reduced the amount low-income tenants could claim in housing benefit (later partially reversed) and Section 21 is due to be abolished. Higher risks and more attractive alternatives, for example AirBnB or leasing to local authorities can affect landlords’ choice of tenants and some landlords refuse to house households on benefits.”
The project
The research work will focus on four questions:
- How has the Covid pandemic affected conditions and availability of private rented housing in three London neighbourhoods?
- How have changes in taxation, licensing, welfare and LHA affected conditions and availability in these areas? Are the changes driving out bad landlords and/or leading to improvements in rental stock or services?
- Are landlords moving upmarket or selling to owner-occupiers, reducing availability of low-cost accommodation?
- How is the submarket for temporary accommodation affected?
Surveys and interviews
The research team will be surveying private landlords and private tenants in three areas, using an online survey method in the first instance, with possible in-person follow-ups via Zoom.
Landlords who own a privately rented property in any of the key areas are asked to respond to the survey via the following links.
For landlords with a property in Ilford: https://bit.ly/IlfordRenting
For landlords with a property in Thamesmead North: https://bit.ly/ThamesmeadRenting
For landlords with a property in Walworth or the Old Kent Road: https://bit.ly/SouthwarkRenting
As a thank you, all landlords who respond will be in with the chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher.
Survey responses will be anonymous, though interested respondents can volunteer to take part in interviews and/or focus groups.
Researchers will also be carrying out a series of online qualitative interviews and focus groups with tenants and landlords, borough officers, and other informed experts and local stakeholders. Interviewees and focus-group participants will not be identified by name in any research outputs.
The information collected will go into a final report (printed and online), and a shorter non-technical report and policy brief. It may also be used to write one or more academic papers after the research is concluded.
For more information about the research, click here.
