EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - English housing policy: lessons from the past, challenges for the future

English housing policy: lessons from the past, challenges for the future

Introduction

A comprehensive evaluation of English housing policy over the period 1975–2000 with a view to assessing present and future housing policies.

Description

This report:

evaluates English housing policy over 1975-2000 drawing on this evaluation to assess present and future housing policies;
examines key drivers that led to fundamental changes in the housing system: deregulation and liberalisation, the restructuring of housing subsidies, and asset restructuring;
identifies seven deficiencies from this period that form the background to current housing policy objectives;
examines the extent to which current housing policies may address the failings of the housing system inherited from the evaluation period;
discusses new housing supply, choice within the social rented sector, the drive to create supportive communities, and repair and improvement; and
considers the housing system’s contribution towards economic objectives and assesses its ability to cope with future scenarios.

Background information

The research team carried out a valuation of five high-level housing policy themes within the 1975–2000 period, the themes (supply, need and access, finance and affordability, housing and neighbourhood quality, widening choice and management effectiveness) being drawn from an analysis of policy statements. The report set out to provide an independent valuation of housing policy during this period and to draw upon lessons to assess present and future housing policies.

Methodology

The research involved a valuation of five high-level housing policy themes within the 1975–2000 period, the themes being as follows:

supply, need and access;
finance and affordability;
housing and neighbourhood quality;
widening choice; and
management effectiveness.

Conclusions

Finds that the UK Government is faced with seven areas in which the housing system is not working properly namely:

supply mechanisms not providing enough new housing for the market, ‘affordable’ and social rented sectors;
housing market instability due to a combination of a deregulated financial market and highly regulated land market;
social sector tenants in high demand areas normally being able to obtain accommodation or move only when presenting with specific and serious housing needs;
increasing complexity in the management of the social rented sector;
increasing concerns over the viability of deprived neighbourhoods and the acceptability of the traditional social rented housing to people with other housing options;
the housing needs of some groups not being met by general housing policies; and
continuing disrepair and inadequate renovation programmes.

Contact info

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Phone: +44 20 7944 4400
enquiryodpm@odpm.gsi.gov.uk

Publication date

01/01/2005

Researcher

Mark Stephens, Christine Whitehead and Moira Munro

Article info
ISBN: 1851127534

Links

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

Lessons from the past, challenges for the future of housing policy. An evaluation of English housing policy 1975-2000 (PDF, Eng, 734KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Housing

Keywords

Housing policy