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Reimagining Housing: Bold Moves for Systemic Change

Writer's picture: Eleanor BowdenEleanor Bowden



I love this image. It was shared by a good friend and colleague a while ago, and I’ve since shared it with others who I know will absolutely adore it. 


The housing market is incredibly complicated, and those of us who work in it know it’s an interconnected web. When you impact one part of the system, the rest of it shakes.


But stepping back from the day-to-day, I’ve been struck by just how deeply connected these challenges are. Housing associations are struggling with income streams, which affects decisions on decarbonisation today that will impact tenants for decades. Local authorities’ housing teams are stretched so thin that it raises questions about whether the Renters' Rights Bill will deliver its full potential. 


There’s not enough affordable housing. Not enough quality stock. And not enough sustainable stock. Meanwhile, the housing market operates with fragmented regulation—partly governed by government policies, partly left to the free market, and wholly incapable of meeting the needs of millions.


The interconnectedness of these challenges points to one conclusion: system change is the only way forward. It’s not about tinkering around the edges. It’s about rethinking how the system works as a whole—because the current setup simply isn’t fit for purpose.


 

Three Projects Shaping System Change Thinking

Through the work of me and my colleagues at Pineapple, we’ve had the privilege of being involved in several projects that explore system change in housing. These projects highlight how collaboration can drive meaningful change. Here are three examples:


1. Innovating Decarbonisation Funding with British Gas, NatWest, and Places for People

One of the most impactful collaborations we’ve worked on is bringing together a lender, an energy provider, and a housing provider to tackle the challenge of funding decarbonisation. This partnership has shown how aligning the interests of these sectors can create an innovative solution, making it easier to deliver the retrofitting and sustainable housing stock we so urgently need. It’s a model for how systemic barriers can be addressed through collaboration and shared goals.


2. Unlocking Affordable Housing in the Private Rented Sector

Last year, I worked with World Habitat on a research project exploring how the private rented sector could become a vehicle for affordable housing. It highlighted the untapped potential for systemic changes within this sector. The insights I gained from this work have directly informed Pineapple’s thinking on how to address affordability in housing.


3. Preparing for the Renters' Rights Bill

I worked with local authorities and private housing sector leaders in the North West to prepare for the Renters' Rights Bill - a major piece of legislation which intends to give renters more security, make it easier to challenge unfair practices, and improve the quality and safety of rental homes. This work focused on embedding collaboration and ensuring the legislation delivers on its promise. The experience has given Pineapple valuable perspectives on systemic barriers, which we’ve brought into broader thinking.



 

Reimagining How We Live

Reimagining how we live, and how our housing market operates, has to involve bold moves. It requires partnership to make those changes—which is inherently underlined by uncertainty, which requires  trust. Yet, these are two things the housing market doesn’t particularly excel in.


Our work has shown that trust and collaboration are possible. The success of our decarbonisation partnership with NatWest, British Gas, and Places for People is proof that bringing together the supply chain, funders, and landlords can drive change. We’ve connected local authorities to collaborate not just with each other but with government to prepare for the Renters' Rights Bill and ensure it delivers on its promises.


These examples show that while systemic change is complex, it’s not impossible. And if we want a housing system that works for everyone—affordable, sustainable, high-quality homes—we can’t keep tinkering around the edges. We have to tackle the system itself.




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