The Case of Affordable Housing: a global perspective on financing and institutional ownership

*Please note the conference is now fully booked*

The Case of Affordable Housing: a global perspective on financing and institutional ownership

Organised by the UCL Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management with the support of the Bartlett 100 centenary campaign. 

This conference will bring together academics and a wide range of industry stakeholders to explore global case studies focused on new tools and models for financing affordable housing, working towards viable solutions for the UK and beyond.

Lack of affordable housing can have a significant impact on productivity and economic growth worldwide, and can lead to increased segregation and inequality within communities.

It is an area of research focus for the Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management, supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals which aim to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and improve infrastructure. 

A fundamental question in the creation and management of affordable and social housing is who finances it. In the UK and beyond there has been a shift from public sector led financing towards using capital markets to access funds. Housing associations play a vital role in this landscape as do institutional investors through direct financing or building (Build-to-Rent) and investment in existing large-scale rental accommodation. 

The paper session will present the latest international academic research on the financing of social and affordable housing projects worldwide while the round table discussion will bring together industry leaders for a strategic discussion on emerging models of housing funding, supply and place making. The workshops will facilitate concentrated discussion in response to the latest industry trends and research. 

Programme

9:30-10:00 - Registration and refreshments
10:00-10:15 - Welcome 
10:20-11:30 - Submitted papers session I (four parallel sessions)

• What can the state do to improve affordability?
• Does the mortgage market have a role in improving affordability?
• Land value capture, viability tests and the impact of regeneration on neighbourhoods
• Global perspectives on affordable housing

11:30-11:50 - Refreshment break
11:50 - 12:50 - Workshops (three parallel sessions)

• Rental market investment: Happy Tenants = Happy Landlords? Andrew Allen, Aberdeen Standard Investments
• Institutional investment in affordable housing. Pete Gladwell, Legal and General, Honorary Professor at BSCPM, UCL
• Obsolescence, depreciation and maintenance: unaffordability in the 21st century. Professor Yolande Barnes, Bartlett Real Estate Institute

12:50-13:50 - Networking lunch
13:50-14:50 - Round table discussion "Tackling the housing crisis - councils, housing associations and Homes England" with:

• Paul Hackett, Optivo, Honorary Professor at BSCPM, UCL
• Colm Lacey, Brick by Brick
• Helen Evans, Network Homes 
• Nick Walkley, Homes England
• Steve Douglas, Altair

14:50-15:10 - Refreshment break
15:10-16:20 - Submitted papers session II (four parallel sessions)

• Impact of rent regulation and Help to Buy on investment performance
• Is affordability improving? What factors help neighbourhoods perform
• Rethinking supply chains to improve affordable housing delivery
• Global perspectives on affordable housing

16:20-16:30 - Comfort break
16:30-17:35 - Keynote lecture and closing remarks

Affordable Housing: Some International Lessons, Professor Stephen Malpezzi, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

17:35-19:30 - Canapé and drinks reception

Keynote lecture

The keynote lecture will be delivered by Professor Stephen Malpezzi from the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Professor Malpezzi is a professor in the Department of Real Estate in the Wisconsin School of Business. Professor Malpezzi is a past Academic Director of the Graaskamp Center and has also served as Chair of the Real Estate Department. He is an Associate Member of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, an Affiliate of UW's Institute for Research on Poverty and a Faculty Affiliate of the La Follette School of Public Affairs. 

Watch online

A live stream of the keynote lecture will be available on this page from 16:30 on Thursday 12 September.

Book now

Get in touch

The School's research into affordable housing and investment is led by Dr Stanimira Milcheva. Contact Stani to find out more about our work and learn about upcoming opportunities to collaborate:

• Dr Stanimira Milcheva
  Senior Lecturer in Economics and Finance of Real Estate and Infrastructure
  s.milcheva@ucl.ac.uk

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Related research

Economics and finance
Our research into the economics and finance of the built environment covers macro-economics and micro-economics from institutional to firm and project levels. Find out more. 

Affordable housing
Our research into affordable housing brings together leading researchers, industry experts and public sector stakeholders to provide solutions to the global social challenge of affordable housing. Find out more.