King's College London: Housing policies popular but don't boost votes for the needy

May 7, 2026

South London News Smart London Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

Good news for renters, maybe not for election turnout. Policies designed to help people struggling with housing costs are popular with everyone, but they might not be the magic bullet to get disadvantaged groups to vote. That's the finding from new research co-authored by an academic at King’s College London.

What the research found

The study looked at whether things like rent caps and eviction bans could encourage more people to get involved in politics. Those on lower incomes and facing housing insecurity often vote less. This means people with more money and secure homes have a bigger say.

Academics surveyed 1,790 people about different housing policies. They asked respondents to choose between candidates offering various housing measures and say how likely they were to vote.

Popular policies, same old turnout

The results showed that while these policies are well-liked across the board, they don't specifically push those most affected by housing problems to vote more. Support was spread evenly, from the well-off to those less secure. Policies like limiting rent rises and strengthening eviction protections were particularly popular.

However, this popularity didn't lead to more disadvantaged people saying they would vote. The researchers described housing as a "high valence, low priority" issue. This means people agree on what needs to be done, but other issues like the economy, healthcare, and immigration are more important to most voters.

Dr Raluca Pahontu from King’s College London said: "The findings suggest that while such policies are popular, they do not disproportionately motivate those experiencing housing insecurity to vote or engage in the political process."

The study concludes that simply introducing targeted housing reforms is unlikely to fix unequal political participation. It seems that lower turnout among disadvantaged groups comes from deeper issues, like long-term voting habits and general political engagement, rather than a lack of policies addressing their needs.

Dr Tom O’Grady, co-author from University College London, added: "Instead, support was broadly spread across groups, including both the affluent and less secure."

Author

South London News Smart London Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

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