Information about Presentations

Call for papers/presentations

We are delighted to open our call for papers for our 2027 Annual Conference titled: Housing Under Pressure: Wellbeing, Systems and Change.

Join us for the Housing Studies Association Annual Conference 2027 as we come together to share and discuss cutting-edge housing research and policy/practice issues during uncertain times for housing systems. 

Housing is under growing pressure from multiple directions. Affordability challenges, poverty, housing insecurity, climate change, poor housing conditions, public health concerns, technological change, and shifting policy environments are reshaping homes, neighbourhoods, and housing systems. At the same time, housing remains central to everyday life, wellbeing, inequality, and social justice.

The Housing Studies Association Annual Conference 2027 (#HSA2027) will bring together academics, policymakers, practitioners, and others from across disciplines and sectors to explore how housing is changing, where pressures are being most acutely felt, and what responses are needed in research, policy, and practice. The conference will provide space to share cutting-edge research, reflect on emerging challenges, and consider how housing systems can better support people, places, and communities.

We warmly welcome contributions from UK-based and international researchers (within and outside of academia, from all disciplinary backgrounds and at all stages of their careers), policymakers and practitioners, campaigners, activists, and communities and contributions that consider both single country and comparative cases.

At the Housing Studies Association, we are proud of our welcoming and friendly atmosphere, and we strongly encourage the submission of papers related to housing-related research, practice, and education, irrespective of their direct alignment with the conference theme, fostering a diverse and inclusive discourse on housing studies.

Our conference offers an opportunity to engage in broader discussions including (but not limited to):

• Housing, health and wellbeing
• Affordability, poverty and the cost of living
• Climate change, sustainability and resilience
• Technology, data and smart housing systems
• Housing finance, policy and regulation
• Inequality, exclusion and housing justice
• Homes, households and everyday life
• Renting, tenure and insecurity
• Place, neighbourhoods and communities
• Urban planning, change and housing development
• Housing organisations, leadership and practice
• Homelessness, welfare reform, and precarity, and, 
• Other topics relating to housing-related research, education, and practice.  

The Housing Studies Association 2027 Annual Conference will be returning as a hybrid conference, with face to face sessions in Sheffield between 12th and 14th April, and online sessions in June. We have listened to feedback over the past few years and we have evolved how we offer a hybrid experience. This ensures we actively provide a space for discussion and presentation from different groups but also reflects the voluntary nature of the Housing Studies Association and the organisation of the conference. 

Key dates

Deadline for submissions: 20th November 2026 at 5pm

Notification of acceptance: By the 22nd January 2027

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. What formats are you accepting for this year’s conference?

We are holding a hybrid conference with in-person and online presentations. We will be accepting the following:

• In-person full-paper presentation in Sheffield
• In-person lightning presentation in Sheffield
• Online full-paper presentation (to be presented live during the International Housing Symposium)
• Online lightning presentation (to be presented live during the International Housing Symposium)

2. What length should the presentation be?

• In-person full-paper presentations should last between 15 and 20 minutes, followed by 5-10 minutes of questions (dependent on the length of the presentation).
• Online full-paper presentations should last between 15 and 20 minutes, followed by 5-10 minutes of questions (dependent on the length of the presentation).
• Lightning presentations should be 5 minutes, whether in-person or online. 

3. What is a lightning presentation?

You can choose to deliver a 5 minute talk on your work or ideas. These are ideal to showcase work in progress or condense your research and thinking down to key take-aways for policy actors. 

4. How do I submit an abstract/proposal?

We are using the Oxford Abstract platform for the end-to-end management of the conference. This includes abstract submission, registration, and accessing conference resources, timetable and the platform. Further information will be made available in due course. 

5. Do I have to submit a full paper?

No you do not have to submit a full paper, however, we will be making it possible for you to upload a paper to your contribution. You will need to export your paper as a PDF and upload on the abstract dashboard. 

You will be asked to create an account (unless you have previously used this platform), please make sure that the email address you use to submit a paper is the same email address you use to register, all communications around your paper and registration will come through this system.  

6. Do presenters have to pay to attend the conference?

Yes. If your proposal is accepted, all presenters must register for the conference and pay the relevant attendance fee. Acceptance of a proposal does not automatically register you for the conference.

A limited number of bursaries may be available to support eligible early-career researchers and others who might otherwise be unable to attend. Further information about eligibility and how to apply will be provided when registration opens.

7. Do I need to use the same email address for submission and registration?

Yes. Please use the same email address for your Oxford Abstracts submission and conference registration. This will allow your submission and registration to be matched correctly. Conference communications will be sent to the email address associated with your account.

8. What should my proposal include?

Your proposal should provide a clear overview of the research, practice, policy issue or idea you intend to present. It should briefly explain the focus of the presentation, its relevance to housing studies and the key arguments, findings or questions that will be discussed.

Proposals should be no longer than 300 words. Further guidance and the assessment criteria will be provided when submissions open.

9. Can I submit work in progress?

Yes. We welcome proposals at different stages of development, including completed research, work in progress, emerging findings, methodological reflections, policy and practice contributions, and new ideas.

Lightning presentations are particularly suitable for early-stage work or contributions focused on a small number of key messages.

10. Can I submit more than one proposal?

You may submit more than one proposal. However, to enable as many people as possible to participate, the Conference Committee may limit the number of contributions that an individual can present if the conference is oversubscribed.

11. Can a proposal have more than one author?

Yes. You may include co-authors when submitting your proposal. The submitting author is responsible for ensuring that the names and details of all contributors are entered correctly.

At least one named author must be available to present the contribution if it is accepted.

12. Do all co-authors have to register?

Only co-authors who attend the conference need to register and pay the relevant conference fee. At least one named author must register and present each accepted contribution.

13. Am I guaranteed my preferred presentation format?

We will try to accommodate your preferred format, but this cannot be guaranteed. Depending on the review outcome and the capacity of the programme, the Conference Committee may offer a different presentation format, for example, a lightning presentation rather than a full-paper presentation.

You will be able to accept or decline any alternative format offered.

14. Can I edit my proposal after submitting it?

You can edit your proposal through your Oxford Abstracts account until the submission deadline. After the deadline, changes may be restricted. If you need to make an important correction after submissions have closed, please contact the Conference Team.

15. What should I do if I need to withdraw my proposal?

Please notify the Conference Team as soon as possible if you are no longer able to present. Early notice helps us minimise gaps in the programme and, where possible, offer the space to another contributor.

16. Can I present work that has previously been published or presented elsewhere?

Yes. Contributions do not have to be unpublished or presented for the first time. However, your proposal should offer a relevant and engaging contribution to the conference and should clearly explain what attendees will gain from the presentation.

17. Can I change between in-person and online presentation after acceptance?

In-person and online presentations will form part of separate programmes, with online presentations delivered during the International Housing Symposium. We therefore cannot guarantee that presenters will be able to change their mode of participation after acceptance.

If your circumstances change, please contact the Conference Team as early as possible. Requests will be considered subject to programme capacity.

18. Will I need to upload my slides in advance?

Presenters will receive guidance about presentation formats, audiovisual arrangements and any deadlines for uploading slides before the conference. Online presenters will also receive instructions for accessing and presenting through the conference platform.

19. Who should I contact about my proposal?

If you have a question about your submission, please contact the Conference Team at [email protected]. Where possible, please include your submission title and reference number.