The aim of the project was to identify strategic options that could help to attract institutional investors to expand their investment portfolio into the social housing sector, primarily through partnership with housing associations.  The research sought to identify barriers (real or imagined) that investors face, the nature and scale of institutional appetite, as well as how closely the interests of investors and housing associations were currently aligned.  The investigation extended beyond the UK,incorporating case studies of the range of strategies adopted by investors and social housing providers in Europe.