About

In his previous role he was an ESRC funded postgraduate researcher at the University of Birmingham. The title of his PhD is: 'Understanding the growth of the private rented sector in England: Has Generation Rent been Priced Out?'. During his time at the University of Birmingham he worked as a teaching associate and a researcher. This included research on an international project comparing housing wealth and welfare.

Prior to his PhD Ben worked for the Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF) on a variety of topics including Housing Benefit, self-help housing and the private rented sector. For three years, he was a trustee of a charity which provided accommodation for refugees and asylum seekers in the East Midlands. He also has experience of conducting research for public and third sector organisations across subjects including health and international development.

Ben was a member of the executive committee of the Housing Studies Association from 2012 to 2018.

Research interests

• The private rented sector
• Housing associations
• Support with housing costs (e.g. Housing Benefit and Universal Credit)
• Community-led housing
• Regeneration
• Health inequalities.

PhD supervision

Ben would welcome discussion on supervising students around any of the following areas

• The growth of the private rented sector and ‘generation rent’ (particularly in accommodating low income households)
• The changing role of Housing Associations (particularly in relation to financialisation)
• Welfare reform and support with housing costs
• Other topics related to my publications (see list)

Research

• Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research

2017-2022 UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE), Economic and Social Research Council / Arts and Humanities Research Council / Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

2017-2018 Scaling up social lettings? Scope, impact and barriers, Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

2017 The Housing Challenges for Younger People in the South East, CASE Housing Associations.

2017 Mental Health and Homelessness in Nottingham, Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group.

2017 Housing Options for Younger People in the private rented sector, Residential Landlords Association.

2016-2017 A Rapid Evaluation of Impact of the Positive Pathway approach to Youth Homelessness, St Basils.

2016-2017 Social Lettings Agencies in the West Midlands, University of Birmingham and West Midlands Housing Group.

2016-2017 Action Learning with the Voluntary Right to Buy Pilots, National Housing Federation.

2016 Access to the Private Rented Sector for Homeless People, CRISIS.

2016 Affordability analysis, Flagship Housing Group.

2015-2016 Valuing the benefits of regeneration, Chartered Institute of Housing.

2015 Housing Benefit for 18 to 21 year olds, CRISIS.

2015 The extension of the Right to Buy to Housing Associations, Communities and Local Government Select Committee.

Publications