Professor Paul Hickman

Professor at Sheffield Hallam University

Share

Professor of Housing and Social Policy, Sheffield Hallam University

Paul is Professor of Housing and Social Policy within the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics (PSP). Paul has expertise in: tenancy sustainment in social housing; tenant participation in the social and private rented sectors; tenancy sustainment in social housing; the impact of welfare reforms, including Universal Credit, on both landlords and tenants; Housing Benefit; and, 'resilience' to economic hardship. Paul has led studies for a range of funders including: the Joseph Rowntree Foundation; the Department for Work and Pensions; the Office for the First Minister and Deputy Minister; the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Wakefield and District Housing; and, Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Paul was a Co-Investigator of the ESRC/ AHRC/ Joseph Rowntree Foundation funded, the Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (‘CaCHE’).

Paul is currently leading the ‘Holding on to home: tenancy sustainment in social housing’ study, which is funded by the Nuffield Foundation. It is paying particular attention to identifying the causes of rent arrears, as this is the main reason why tenancies fail. By exploring the behaviours and experiences of tenants and landlords, the research will provide evidence and guidance which will improve landlords’ tenancy sustainment policies and practices, making it easier for tenants to pay their rent and fewer tenancies failing. The 27 month study, which began in March 2022, is mixed methods comprising a range of research instruments including: a tenant survey; in-depth interviews with tenants and ‘stakeholders’; conversation analysis of landlord/ tenant communications; rent account analysis. Data collection is taking place in four case study landlords in England. For further information about the ‘Holding on to home’ study, please visit its website: https://holdingontohome.org/

Paul is the Departmental Research Lead for PSP and Co-Director of the Sheffield Institute for Policy Studies. He was chair of the learned society, the Housing Studies Association, for four years.