Overview

This module introduces students to some of the key current issues in housing policy, concentrating on the three key areas of quantity, quality and affordability. It examines the factors affecting the supply of, and demand for, housing, and explores the characteristics of the different tenures people may experience during their housing careers, looking at contemporary issues in each housing tenure. The module will also examine housing standards, and the policies for maintaining housing quality, together issues of housing finance. It will explore the managerial context of social rented housing which has undergone considerable change through a changing mix of local authorities, housing associations and other social rented housing agencies. A theme of the module will be the UK housing crisis with a focus on generation rent; beds in sheds and homelessness.

Assessment Strategy

Excellent. A* - A- ESSAY: A comprehensive understanding of the key issues in British housing policy in the areas of quantity, quality and affordability, and an ability to discuss the differences with continental comparators. An excellent knowledge of the different tenures and tenure change during the twentieth century, and an ability to critically analyse the relative importance of the underlying causes of these changes

EXAM: A comprehensive understanding of the administrative and historical context of social rented housing. A complete understanding of issues relating to tenant selection. An ability to critically analyse most, if not all of the strategies for dealing with difficult and 'non-traditional' tenants. Able to fully integrate theoretical and/or comparative material in a critical policy analysis.

Good. B+ - B- ESSAY: A good understanding of the key issues in British housing policy in the areas of quantity, quality and affordability, and a good knowledge of continental comparators. A good knowledge of the different tenures and tenure change during the twentieth century, and an ability to analyse the relative importance of the underlying causes of these changes.

EXAM: A clear understanding of the administrative context of social rented housing. A good understanding of issues relating to tenant selection. An ability to describe and analyse most, if not all of the strategies for dealing with difficult and 'non-traditional' tenants. Able to fully integrate theoretical and/or comparative material as appropriate.

Threshold. C+ - C- ESSAY: A basic understanding [possibly with some omissions] of the key issues in British housing policy in the areas of quantity, quality and affordability, and continental comparators. Some knowledge of the different tenures and tenure change during the twentieth century, and some knowledge of the underlying causes of these changes.

EXAM: A basic understanding of the administrative context of social rented housing. Some understanding of issues relating to tenant selection. Able to describe some of the strategies for dealing with difficult and 'non-traditional' tenants. Able to use some theoretical and/or comparative material as appropriate.

Learning Outcomes

• Be familiar with problems of housing management and current practices.

• Critically evaluate debates about the difficulty in letting some social housing units.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the reasons for the tenure pattern of housing in England and Wales, and how other countries may differ

• Demonstrate knowledge of the structure of social housing management and its historical change.

• Identify and discuss critically the key issues in each housing tenure.

• Show a knowledge of the concept of satisfactory housing, and be able to discuss critically policies towards this objective.

• Understand the financing of housing, and the inter-relationship between finance systems and tenure patterns.