End Furniture Poverty – Cost–Benefit Analysis of Furnished Tenancies & Local Welfare Assistance

End Furniture Poverty asked Local Partnerships to assess the impact of furnished tenancies and Local Welfare Assistance (LWA) schemes in tackling furniture poverty.

Local Partnerships delivered a rigorous cost–benefit analysis of furnished tenancies and LWA schemes to quantify their impact on reducing furniture poverty—a condition affecting approximately 9% of the UK population, including at least 26% of social housing tenants. Our analysis evaluated how these interventions lower demand on homelessness, health, and social care services, while improving outcomes such as tenant health, educational engagement, and employability. The findings demonstrated strong financial and social returns and have played a significant role in shaping national policy discussions. The report’s insights, including the innovative “Furniture Flex” implementation offer, were positively received by stakeholders and ministers and continue to inform strategies for scaling up furnished tenancies across social housing.

Client requirements

End Furniture Poverty (EFP) commissioned Local Partnerships to develop comprehensive Cost Benefit Analyses (CBAs) for two key initiatives: Local Welfare Assistance (LWA) schemes managed by local authorities and furnished tenancies offered by social landlords. EFP sought to rigorously test the hypothesis that both types of schemes deliver significant benefits to both the recipients and the public purse, thereby providing robust evidence to support their advocacy for the expansion of these vital services.

How we supported the client

Local Partnerships collaborated closely with EFP and four participating organisations: two local authorities operating LWA programmes (including furniture provision) and two Registered Providers (RPs)/housing associations managing furnished tenancies.

The solution

• Understanding Data Availability: Working directly with the participating organisations to assess the scope and nature of their existing data related to the schemes.
• Developing a Theory of Change: Collaboratively constructing a clear theory of change for each scheme, providing a testable framework for the subsequent analysis.
• Constructing Bespoke Cost Benefit Models: Developing tailored cost benefit models for each case, integrating the specific data provided by the participating organisations.
• Deriving Cost Benefit Ratios: Calculating detailed cost benefit ratios by comparing the costs of inputs with quantifiable benefits. These benefits were assessed either as direct financial savings or as improvements in wellbeing, drawing upon data from trusted and reliable sources.
• Tailoring Analysis for Stakeholders: Ensuring the derived ratios were specific to the different beneficiaries: the recipient of the service, the landlord, and the wider public purse (for furnished tenancies), and local authorities and wider societal benefits (for LWA schemes).

The impact

As a direct result of our work:

• Validation of EFP’s Hypothesis: The CBAs unequivocally demonstrated strongly positive benefits for individuals, local authorities, and the wider public purse from both LWA schemes and furnished tenancies. This robust evidence directly supported End Furniture Poverty’s campaigning position for the expansion of these crucial initiatives.
• Evidence for Preventative Measures: The analysis highlighted that furnished tenancies serve as a powerful preventative measure. By significantly improving vulnerable tenants’ ability to sustain social tenancies, these schemes enable individuals to benefit from the extensive support offered by social landlords, contrasting sharply with the often precarious nature of private sector renting. This preventative approach helps to avoid potential crises and the associated personal and societal costs.
• Strategic Support for Advocacy: The comprehensive and data-driven findings provided End Furniture Poverty with compelling evidence to present to policymakers and stakeholders, strengthening their case for increased investment and broader implementation of these beneficial schemes across the UK.

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