The 2023 UK Housing Review launched at House of Lords

A launch event for the publication of the annual UK housing ‘bible’ – the 2023 UK Housing Review - was hosted at the House of Lords with key stakeholders from across the sector in attendance.

The host of the event, Lord Richard Best described the publication as: ‘The essential encyclopaedia of housing data and the stimulus for informed discussion on the key housing issues.’

The Review, in its 31st year, brings together the most important housing statistics from across the UK. Seen as a key resource for housing professionals, leaders, and policy makers from across the public and private sectors, the Review’s commentary and contemporary issues chapters feature a wealth of in-depth analysis, helping to paint a clear picture of housing across the UK supported by over 200 charts and tables of statistical analysis.

Contemporary issues covered in the 2023 edition include an overview of housing’s role in the UK economy, a UK-wide review of developments in the private rented sector, an analysis of the changing role of private finance in affordable housing provision, and a review of quality issues in social housing and changes in the regulatory regimes.

At the launch event guests were provided with overviews of some of the issues covered in the Review, including the role of housing in the economy and the government’s levelling up agenda, the state of the housing market and continuing high levels of homelessness and use of temporary accommodation.

The 2023 UK Housing Review’s complete team of authors include Mark Stephens, John Perry, Peter Williams, and Gillian Young, with contributions from Kenneth Gibb of Glasgow University, Steve Partridge of Savills, freelance journalist Jules Birch, Annie Owens of the National Housing Federation (formerly CIH), Lynne McMordie of Heriot-Watt University and Sam Lister of CIH.

Mark Stephens, Mactaggart Professor of Land, Property & Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow and the Review’s editor, said: “The re-emergence of inflation and the end of low interest rates have fundamentally changed the context of housing policy. There are big challenges ahead, not least to end the self-defeating addiction to ever rising house prices.”

CIH chief executive Gavin Smart commented: “This year’s UK Housing Review is published at a crucial time: never has the need for more housing investment been as great, yet in England at least the government’s Affordable Homes Programme is failing to meet its targets, and providers are under increasing pressure to spend money on the homes they already own as well as the new ones we need. These issues are – as ever – fully covered in the analytical chapters of the Review. In addition, given continued restrictions on the support that government provides, we look at how investment might be boosted by private investors in social housing.”

The UK Housing Review series is published by CIH and is a free member benefit to all CIH members. It is not an exclusive CIH member resource and is available to buy via the CIH website at https://www.cih.org/bookshop

Publication of the Review relies on sponsorship and grants from a range of government bodies and housing organisations. The 2023 UK Housing Review has been made possible with the financial support of Campbell Tickell, Clarion, Crisis, Grand Union Housing Group, Guinness Partnership, the Housing Studies Charitable Trust, London & Quadrant, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Paradigm Housing, Places for People, the Scottish Government, Settle Group, The Housing Finance Corporation, and the Welsh Government.