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About Us

LSE Housing and Communities is a research unit within the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE) at the London School of Economics led by Professor Anne Power.

Laura Lane, Research Officer for CASE and LSE Housing and Communities, talks about some of the recent projects undertaken by the team, including cladding tower blocks to reduce fuel poverty and in depth interviews with social housing tenants affected by the current welfare reforms.

LSE Housing and Communities explores the effects of poverty and social disadvantage, particularly from a neighbourhood and community perspective. We explore the impact of public policy on poor areas over time.

We aim to understand social realities and social change within communities - housing and neighbourhood problems and needs; ways to support tenants and improve landlord services; experiments in resident and community self-help action.

Our work informs government policy both centrally and locally. We work closely with a wide range of social landlords and community organisations, local authorities, the devolved regions, public bodies, charities and universities –in the UK, across Europe and in the US.

We investigate the impact of poor neighbourhood and area conditions on families, children and older residents; we document the roles that front-line staff and local residents play in regenerating and improving their communities, and explore why efforts to tackle severe problems sometimes fail.

We have thirty years of research experience in low-income areas, covering housing, regeneration, family life, communities, urban issues and sustainable development. Our work on sustainable development covers the role of housing and the built environment in climate change, the consequences of suburban sprawl, the cost of environmental damage, the recovery of urban communities and difficult estates through neighbourhood renewal.

Our areas of expertise and interest are:

Neighbourhoods

  • disadvantaged and run-down neighbourhoods
  • neighbourhood renewal and regeneration
  • neighbourhood planning
  • community infrastructure
  • regeneration
  • neighbourhood management
  • sustainable communities
  • neighbourhood environments

Housing

  • tenure patterns and tenure change
  • social housing
  • private renting
  • housing management and maintenance
  • supply, demand and access to housing
  • mixed communities and gentrification
  • demolition and community displacement
  • low carbon homes – energy efficiency
  • retrofit and upgrading of existing property
  • European housing patterns

Social problems and social action

  • anti-social behaviour, crime and residents' action over local crime
  • marginal groups, race relations and community cohesion
  • riots and disorder
  • family problems and interventions
  • social exclusion and inclusion
  • intergenerational conflict
  • skill deficits and basic skills
  • apathy, community engagement and community investment
  • capacity building and community self-help
  • residential training and small grants
  • adult learning and basic skills
  • social change, gentrification and 'community spirit'

Climate change and sustainable development

  • climate change
  • energy saving
  • local and community action on environmental sustainability
  • sustainable transport including public transport, walking and cycling
  • retrofitting estates and high-rise blocks
  • Passivhaus building and upgrading
  • environmental upgrading

Cities and international experience of recovery

  • cities and urban renewal
  • post-industrial cities in Europe and the USA
  • international urban growth and informal settlements
  • former industrial areas – acute economic and social problems – potential for recovery

What We Offer

We offer the following services to central government, research funders, charitable trusts, voluntary organisations, local authorities, social landlords, neighbourhood-based organisations, and others:

  • Background research on statistical trends, problems and policy initiatives in our areas of expertise
  • Primary research with residents and staff in deprived neighbourhoods
  • Evaluation of the impact of government, landlords and private initiatives within cities and neighbourhoods
  • Event organising to disseminate information and / or consult
  • Policy oriented 'Think Tank' event
  • Roundtable policy briefings
  • Accessible, reports and clear documentation of evidence
  • Consultancy advice on housing, urban, neighbourhood and community issues
  • We are fluent in several European languages: French, Spanish, Italian, German, We carry out research in many European countries as well as the UK.