EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Addressing problem private rented housing

Addressing problem private rented housing - UK

Introduction

The report brings together some of the main themes and ideas arising from a two year programme of working with seven pilot projects to address problem private rented housing.

Description

The report summarises the factors influencing the impact of local authority interventions to address problem private rented housing. It examines each of the factors in turn:

competencies and capabilities within the authority;
the characteristics of the localities, properties and residents;
the tone and tenor of interventions;
the scale and scope of interventions; and
the use of statutory powers and legal remedies.

The report identifies additional actions to improve the sustainability of such interventions. It draws on pilot projects in Bolton, Hartlepool, Gateshead, Salford, Stoke, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire. Some suggestions are made on ways in which approaches to addressing problem private rented housing might be developed.

Background information

The two year programme worked with seven pilot projects (involving 15 local authorities and other stakeholders) and was set up and funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) in 2003 to address problem private rented housing. It originally focused on areas of low housing demand but was later widened to include local authorities with problem private rented housing in areas of higher demand. The objective of the research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the projects introduced in the seven pilot areas to improve the provision and management of private rented housing.

Methodology

The research involved:

comparative case study work, using documentary, statistical and interview data, and data from landlord and residents’ focus groups;
the collect of data from the participating authorities to monitor changing activities and conditions in the private rented sector;
seminar meetings on topics of concern;
the development and testing of a private rented sector resources pack;
the production of four briefing notes about interventions in the private rented sector, for public circulation and feedback; and
workshops for policy makers, local authority officers and landlords’ representatives.

Conclusions

The report finds that the main factors affecting interventions to address problem private rented housing were:

the competencies and capabilities within the local authority, including staffing and the use of partnerships;
the development of an adequate evidence base to identify the nature and extent of problems;
the tone and tenor of interventions, which should build trust and demonstrate commitment and achieve the right mix of supportive and enforcement activities;
the scale and scope of interventions, including the ability to develop corporate collaborative approaches sufficiently varied to match the changing conditions in areas with problem private renting; and
the use of statutory powers.

Contact info

Department for Communities and Local Government
Phone: +44 (0)20 7944 4400
handr.research@communities.gsi.gov.uk

Publication date

26/07/2006

Researcher

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now Department for Communities and Local Government)

Links

Department for Communities and Local Government

Dealing with ‘problem’ private rented housing (Housing research summary) (PDF, English, 110 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Housing

Keywords

Housing management