Dataspring is a research unit within the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research, specialising in UK social housing data. It has particular expertise in the stock and rents data provided by housing associations in their Regulatory Statistical Returns (RSR) to the Tenant Services Authority, one of the Centre's funders. Example uses of the data together with sample Dataspring reports can be found here. As a free service to the social housing community elements of two of our key databases can be interrogated online:

RENTS: Housing association Rents Guides including cross tenure comparisons

STOCK: Housing association stock from 1989 - RSR time-series data by type, size area etc.

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Have you seen...

De-regulation to re-regulation: Rents in the housing association sector in England

Dr Connie P. Y. Tang presented a paper in April at the Housing Studies Association Conference 2009 in Cardiff on the current structure of housing association rents in England. Her paper charts the marked change of direction seen since the 1980s when housing associations (HAs) were given the freedom from central control to set rents (within a clear accounting framework), to the current more regulated rent setting system which links social rents with property values and local earnings levels.

Using rental data from HAs’ Regulatory Statistical Returns, she shows that with social rents now set on quasi-market principles they reflect rent relativities in market tenures between areas - but not between property sizes. Dr Tang goes on to argue that while social rents are still sub-market and affordable the constraints of the rent setting formula serve to reduce the capacity of HAs to undertake proper maintenance and improvement of existing stock, especially for larger size properties. This will become a particular issue for those in London and the North of England where rents now only just cover costs.

Please click here to see the presentation slides

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Guide to Local Rents 2008 Part III

We are pleased to announce that the Guide to Local Rents 2008 Part III: Social Landlord Rents – Supported Housing is now available for download.

 The tables provide comprehensive data on the pattern of housing association rents and service charges for supported housing and housing for older people at individual housing association, local authority and regional levels. 

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Latest Outputs

Guide to local rents 2008 Part I: Cross Tenure Rents 

The Guide to Local Rents, Part I, II and III provide comprehensive data on the pattern in the social housing sector in England. Part I reports rents charged by housing associations (HAs), rents charged by local authorities and rents in the private rented sector. 

Changing Affordability across the Major Tenures, 2002/03–2006/07 

This briefing paper examines the affordability in the housing associating (HA) sector over the period 2002/03–2006/07. It also compares the position of HA tenants with those in the private rented and owner-occupier sector. 

Analysis of distribution and rents of properties with five or more bedrooms, 2006/07 

This paper explores the extent to which housing associations (HAs) are providing dwellings for large family households who require four bedrooms or more, and the extent to which there is a shortfall in such provision. 

Profile of the Housing Association Sector in 2008 Tables 

Each year, the Tenant Service Authority and Dataspring produce a Profile of the Housing Association (HA) sector, consisting of a set of data tables and technical papers outlining HA stockholdings and changes within the sector over the year.

Please note that from 2007 onwards only Housing Associations which own and/or manage 1,000 or more units and/or bedspaces are required to complete the RSR long form. This has increased from 250 or more in previous years.