Specialist Sector:
Housing and municipality
Industryline Research has extensive experience in the housing and municipal sector, ranging from tenant satisfaction surveys to assessing municipal progress. Our expert team of researchers boasts decades of experience working on housing-related projects, aiming to uncover insights into developmental needs, association or council performance, and other key metrics that enable organisations to access crucial information.
In the municipal sector, Industryline Research is proud to have Debra Hopwood as our contacts manager, who previously served as the housing manager for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing for over a decade. Debra managed dozens of housing officers and oversaw many of the association’s operations. Alongside Debra’s expertise, our wider team has engaged in a range of operations, leading to an innate and detailed understanding of the municipal sector. Working alongside our research team, our registered industry consultants in the housing and municipal sectors include barristers, councillors, and other sector players, handpicked to provide insights and comparisons across the industry. Additionally, Industryline Research maintains close relationships with several trusted translators, enabling us to offer our surveys, interviews, focus groups, and results in multiple languages. This ensures that the demographics of any municipal location are well respected and accounted for.
Our expertise
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Staff with sector experience
Industryline Research requires more from its staff than just research expertise. In addition to bringing research skills to our projects, every staff member is also hired for their duality of skills - being experts in research and within one of our specialist sectors. For instance, Debra Hopwood, our contacts manager, served as the housing manager for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing for over a decade. This insider knowledge complements the specialist consultants we bring to each project, enhancing the expertise of our team.
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Expert software and skills
Our in-house data analyst utilises advanced techniques to derive valuable insights from complex data, while our proprietary survey platform enables efficient delivery of results. We have extensive experience in presenting results in an engaging manner, making it easy for stakeholders to understand and act on our findings. Additionally, our access to numerous translations allows us to conduct surveys and interviews in multiple languages, catering to diverse regional demographics. This linguistic expertise guarantees accurate representation and inclusivity in our research, reinforcing Industryline Research's position as a trusted partner in the municipal sector.
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Industry connections
As an experienced operator in the housing sector, Industryline Research has established an extensive database of contacts within the UK market. Our network encompasses a wide range of organisations, from national entities such as regulatory bodies and housing associations to local organisations specialising in various aspects, including social housing, private rentals, and property development. Furthermore, Industryline Research boasts a comprehensive contact base of individuals including housing officers, property managers, estate agents, and tenants from across the UK. This diverse network enables us to provide our clients with valuable insights and expertise.
The sector at a glance
The housing and municipality sector in the United Kingdom has undergone considerable transformation over the years. In 2020, there were approximately 27.8 million households in the UK, a growth of 9% since 2000 (Office for National Statistics, 2020). The housing stock is primarily comprised of owner-occupied properties (64.6%), followed by private rentals (18.7%) and social rentals (16.7%) (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 2021).
Affordability remains a critical issue, with the average UK house price increasing by 259% between 1997 and 2020, significantly outpacing the 68% rise in median household income (Office for National Statistics, 2021). Consequently, the homeownership rate among younger adults (aged 25-34) has declined from 55% in 1997 to 38% in 2020 (Resolution Foundation, 2021).
The UK government has introduced various measures to address housing challenges, including the Help to Buy scheme and Shared Ownership programme, which have supported over 685,000 first-time buyers since their inception (HM Treasury, 2021). Additionally, the government is committed to delivering 300,000 new homes per year by the mid-2020s to ease housing demand (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 2021).
In terms of municipalities, the UK’s local government structure consists of 339 local authorities, responsible for services such as housing, waste management, and planning (Local Government Association, 2021). The sector has faced budgetary pressures, with local government spending falling by 14.7% in real terms between 2010 and 2020 (Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2021). This has led to an increased focus on efficiency and innovative service delivery models, such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which oversees strategic decision-making across ten local councils (Greater Manchester Combined Authority, 2021). Notwithstanding these challenges, the UK housing and municipality sector demonstrates resilience and adaptability.
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