The Co-operation in Social Housing Commission: Report One - Learning from Experience

Ellie Benton and LSE Housing and Communities

Published 6 March 2025

The Co-operation in Social Housing Commission aims to explore ways of increasing co-operation and power sharing between social housing residents and landlords, and what happens when residents and social housing providers work together to run their homes and communities. The Commission has three main stages: Learning from Experience; Demonstrator Pilot Projects; and Informing Future Practice. LSE Housing are the research partners for the Commission. This report covers findings from Phase 1, Learning From Experience. The report includes a literature and policy review of co-operation in social housing, and identifies case studies to demonstrate the principles and practices that underpin this approach. The report also includes interviews with key stakeholders working across the housing sector to understand the value and challenges of sharing power with residents, the different forms it can take, and the benefits and hurdles of working more cooperatively. The report brings together these findings, case studies, and interviews, to set out key lessons and recommendations for the Commission's pilot projects and for the wider sector.