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Last updated 23rd March 2023

Tom is a Research Fellow and the Research Manager of the Healthy Housing Initiative at the University of Huddersfield. Tom has extensive experience of leading and undertaking both quantitative and qualitative research and evaluations across a diverse spectrum of policy areas, with a specialism in housing and public sector reform. Tom is a Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society, a Certified Member of the Market Research Society, and a member of the Housing Studies Association.

Tom was previously the Senior Researcher at the Residential Landlords Association, where he led the RLA’s research arm, PEARL. Tom managed and conducted internal research projects and was responsible for commissioning and managing external research projects. In 2018, Tom was nominated for a British Property Federation Tomorrow Future Leaders Rising Star Award and given a special commendation for his efforts to promote evidence-based policy making in the sector.

Tom is currently a member of the Housing Studies Association (HSA) Board and serves as the Officer role of Secretary, Tom is also chair of Renting Evidence, a knowledge-exchange initiative which brings together academics, stakeholders and policymakers to share research and evidence on renting to support evidence-informed policymaking and practice.

Tom’s most recent research has focussed on housing policy and the private rented sector, including examining the impact of welfare reforms such as Universal Credit, understanding private landlords, the rise of the sharing economy and the growth in popularity of Airbnb, renter’s experiences of ‘home’ in the private rented sector, and experiences of policy change across the UK. Tom has recently led a project for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Scottish Government examining the challenges faced by private renters and their priorities for change.

Tom’s research on housing has received national and international media coverage, has influenced Government policymaking, including being cited in national Government consultations on the private rented sector, and his research has been widely cited in debates in the House of Commons, House of Lords, and by the London Mayor. He is routinely called upon to provide expert insight to policymakers and gave evidence to the Welsh Parliament on amendments to the Renting Homes Wales Act 2016. Tom’s research was used as evidence in a High Court case examining whether the ‘Right to Rent’ checks and immigration legislation was in breach of human rights law.