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Local Government data and insights services

General

Providing insights through data driven services to improve poor housing, tackle fuel poverty, target energy improvements and investment

BRE supports central

BRE supports central and local governments to assess the condition and performance of their entire housing stock. We have over 40 years’ experience in supporting the delivery of national housing surveys. This gives us access to an extraordinary range of data, and broad experience of surveying and statistically modelling housing stocks.

Who we work with

We provide services to government, local authorities and social housing providers.

Local authorities: private sector housing

We support the local authority’s statutory obligation to regularly review the condition of its housing stock. This review informs housing strategies and helps tackle poor housing and fuel poverty.

Local authorities: energy and climate change

We help local authorities to determine baseline energy efficiency and carbon emission levels. At the same time, we also assess the potential benefits to their housing stock of implementing improvements such as renewable energy.

We also support strategies to retrofit housing and decarbonise the housing stock.

Central government

We examine the practicalities, costs and impacts of proposed housing strategies on government targets. This can include establishing the details of a particular problem, such as fuel poverty, and the actions most likely to effectively tackle that problem.

Social housing providers

We provide the information needed to assess social housing providers' plans for repair, maintenance and improvement For example, we can advise on the energy saved by installing cavity wall insulation and the fuel bill savings for tenants.

Our data and insights services

Read more about our data and insights services in housing survey, housing stock modelling and crime reduction and prevention.

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Housing stock modelling

Providing insights through data driven services to improve poor housing, tackle fuel poverty, target energy improvements and investment.

Explore housing stock modelling

Housing Stock Condition Database

BRE provides access to the Housing Stock Condition Database (HSCD) which enables local authorities to understand and monitor their housing stock.

Explore the HSCD

English Housing Survey

BRE is involved with developing the methodology of the English Housing Survey (EHS) as well as analysis, reporting and training surveyors.

Explore EHS services

Crime reduction

BRE provides independent and professional crime reduction and prevention services.

Explore crime reduction services

About our housing stock models and data services

Data is key to maintaining a strategic understanding of housing stock and effectively targeting resources to where they are needed most.

Initially developed as an efficient alternative to resource-intensive physical survey techniques, BRE’s stock modelling approach has been developed and refined since 2003. It uses a variety of data sources and statistical techniques to predict the likelihood of dwellings meeting criteria for housing standards, energy efficiency and household insights. This enables our clients to:

Target interventions to improve housing
Decarbonise dwellings through retrofits
Focus investment into energy efficiency schemes
Tackle fuel poverty
Improving the health and wellbeing of occupants.

Our data and insights services help organisations to address government policy objectives. Integrated lodged Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data determines if private rented properties meet the minimum energy efficiency standards.

Our interactive maps make it easy to understand the geographical distribution of the data and identify which areas to focus your efforts.

All of our data and mapping capabilities are delivered in our HSCD. We also provide a detailed report summarising the results and methodology. This offers the relevant narrative at a strategic level, to enable you to make informed, data-driven decisions.

Housing Stock Condition Database explainer

Consultancy

Alongside the BRE housing stock model, we offer various consultancy options. We can also offer bespoke consultancy services to meet your specific requirements.

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Private rented sector licensing analysis

Our analysis can help to inform an independent evidence base for private rented sector regulation schemes such as the Additional Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) Licensing scheme. We provide:

Information on the private rented housing stock, property condition, deprivation and anti-social behaviour
Area-based approach to distribution of poor condition, deprivation and where this coincides with high proportions of private rented dwellings
Understanding of the likely location and condition of HMOs.

Enquire about licensing analysis

Private rented sector identification

This analysis helps to identify the private rented properties in your housing stock, using a range of data sources and innovative techniques. We provide:

Representative borough-wide sample used to inform tenure distribution
Whole-ward level analysis for wards with known high levels of private rented stock
Improved accuracy in identifying private rented sector dwellings across the area
Improved intelligence across the private rented sector

Enquire about private rental analysis

Dwelling improvement scenario modelling

To help you on your road to net zero, we offer strategic analysis of various dwelling improvement scenarios to examine the potential energy savings. We provide:

Estimated carbon, energy and cost savings
Insights to support strategic planning of dwelling-level energy improvements
Ability to identify for potential quick wins for targeting investments

Enquire about scenario modelling

Health impact assessment

Based on BRE’s research into the cost of poor housing and the BRE housing stock model, the health impact assessment HIA shows the effects of poor housing on its occupants. We provide a detailed report covering:

Assessment of housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS) hazards
Estimated effects on occupant health
Cost of interventions to remedy hazards
Health cost benefit analysis of interventions including savings to the NHS and society

Enquire about health impact assessment

Strategic advisory

We work with clients on achieving net zero. Our advisory services cover decarbonisation, climate change, energy efficiency, resource efficiency, health and wellbeing, circular economy, renewable energy, retrofit. We provide strategic support and insight on:

The design and delivery of low carbon energy transition
Sustainable products, built assets and supply chain
ESG assessment and reporting
Holistic strategies and implementation plan beyond net zero
Making property, infrastructure, communities and services resilient to emerging issues.

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Online housing tools

Housing stock condition database data delivery tool

Cloud based delivery of all dwelling-level data allows you to summarise and query data by tenure and geographical level, create interactive maps, cross-reference variables, update dwelling data and integrate EPC lodgement data.

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Housing health cost calculator

This tool quantifies the health cost benefits of housing improvements, to the NHS and wider society, with a methodology based on “The Real Cost of Poor Housing” publication. It allows you to upload improvements to individual dwellings.

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Excess cold calculator

This tool support excess cold assessments and justifies measures to mitigate it. It can test various improvement scenarios and provides residential property tribunal hearing evidence. It also offers a heat loss calculator to assist with heating specifications.

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Train with BRE Academy

BRE Academy is the leading training provider for individuals and businesses for the built environment and offers relevant training courses in housing.