Taking Stock - Making the most from housing - an assessment of under utilisation of the housing stock in England

This policy: briefing is one of a series published by Shelter. It identifies three key ways in which housing stock is either unused or not used to the fullest potential:

• empty homes
• second homes
• under-occupied homes

The research is informed by national statistics, secondary literature and eight local area case studies commissioned by Shelter and conducted by the Centre for Housing and Planning Research (CCHPR) at the University of Cambridge. The case studies selected were Nottingham, Bradford, Tower Hamlets, Scarborough, South Hams, Bedford, Crawley and Oldham. Each was selected to explore a different issue that was prevalent in the area. The case study areas are broadly representative of the problem (rather than extreme cases), to help enable comparisons to similar areas.