Several recent and forthcoming publications in the joint series will be of interest to HSA members – especially those teaching housing and related subject areas. Prices given here are for HSA or CIH members only and include a 20% discount on the cover price.
And of course new proposals for books are welcomed by the editorial panel.
Most recent titles
Supporting Safer Communities – Housing, Crime and Neighbourhoods
Alan Dearling, Tim Newburn and Peter Somerville
This book is about the key issues which practitioners now face in trying to meet the challenge of creating safer communities. It argues for a balanced and proportionate response to anti-social behaviour and crime - one that offers strategies for prevention, intervention, support and enforcement. Fifteen thought-provoking chapters address themes of ‘disorder and regeneration’, the ‘policing of crime and disorder’, ‘service provider approaches to safe communities’ and ‘social inclusion and community safety.’ The authors explore the importance of working with residents in community safety responses and examine how staff in housing, social work, police and education can overcome barriers by working in partnership.Order no: 125 ISBN: 978-1-905018-30-7 Price: £20 plus postage.
Available (as are the books below) from CIH publications (www.cih.org/publications or pubs@cih.org or phone 02476 851 700)
Housing, ‘Race’ and Community Cohesion
Malcolm Harrison, Deborah Phillips, Kusminder Chahal, Lisa Hunt and John Perry
This book looks critically at government policies on ‘race’, ‘equality’ and community cohesion, from the perspective of both housing providers and of the ‘housed’. It argues that there is a gap between what government says should be done, and the realities and practicalities that apply at community level. The authors argue that practical initiatives are needed to support deprived communities and promote contact and understanding (often in modest ways). And indeed in many places they are already happening. Government often fails to recognise this or – worse – makes policies that run counter to it.Issues covered include: the housing market and how it works for ethnic minorities; developing law and practice; the government’s community cohesion agenda; policy and attitudes towards asylum seekers and refugees;
changing housing needs, and racist harassment and how it is being tackled.
Order no: 114 ISBN: 1-903208-21-X Price: £20 plus postage.
Housing Finance
David Garnett and John Perry
The revised edition of this standard text has just been reprinted to meet expected demand in the new academic year.
Order no: 121 ISBN: 978-1-903208-53-3 Price: £21.60 plus postage.
Also still available
Introducing Social Housing by Stephen Harriot
Matthews and Private Renting in Transition by Peter Kemp.
Forthcoming titles
New titles planned or possible in 2008 include:
Rebuilding Housing Markets by Ed Ferrari and Peter Lee
Looking into Housing by Douglas Robertson
Housing and the Environment – an edited book covering the climate change issue, taking forward ideas from the last HSA conference.
Homelessness - a new book by Suzanne Fitzpatrick and colleagues at York.
Housing and Social Justice – by Isobel Anderson and Duncan Sim.
Ideas for titles should be sent to Peter Williams (consultpwilliams@btinternet.com) or to any of the other members of the editorial panel - Peter Malpass (representing HSA), John Perry (CIH) or Alan Dearling.
NEWS FROM RESEARCH CENTRES
Centre for Comparative Housing Research (CCHR), De Montfort University, Leicester
New Research
Rapid Evidence Assessment of the research literature on the purchase and use of second homes
The Centre for Comparative Housing Research (CCHR) at De Montfort University has been awarded a contract by The National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU). This is a new independent body that has been set up to advise national and local government and other bodies on the affordability of market housing in England. Its creation follows Kate Barker’s Review of Housing Supply in 2004 and her recommendation for the creation of a body to provide expert advice on housing matters, particularly affordability.
NHPAU have commissioned CCHR to take an independent view of the existing evidence base on the impact of second homes on house prices and the affordability of housing by first time buyers. The research will also consider:
- What specific factors attract people to buy second homes and what types of property do they buy, and where?
- What is the geographical distribution of second homes across England, and what are the characteristics of places with a high concentration of second homes?
- What are the social and demographic characteristics of those buying second homes?
- Do households own more than one second home, and what is the distribution?
- Has there been any improvement in the supply and quality of the housing stock as a result of second home purchases?
- What are the social and economic impacts of households owning second homes?
The research project is led by Professor Michael Oxley (moxley@dmu.ac.uk). The research team includes Dr Tim Brown, Director of CCHR, Ros Lishman, Lecturer at CCHR and Dr Richard Turkington, Honorary Research Associate at CCHR and Director of Housing Vision.
The research is being carried out from August to October 2007.
Housing & Community Cohesion
The Centre is involved in a number of projects linked to this important and topical theme. The Commission on Integration and Cohesion published its final report, ‘Our Shared Future’, in June 2007 and highlighted a number of significant issues for the housing sector including:
- Affordable housing providers and funders should include an assessment of how schemes promote integration and cohesion;
- Development of community lettings plans; and
- Effective action to tackle unscrupulous landlords in the private rented sector.
CCHR’s work centres on:
- ‘Mixed Communities’: This is a joint study with the University of Warwick funded through the Institute of Community Cohesion. The first stage has involved a review of the policy and research on this topic.
- Housing and Community Cohesion in Rural Areas: CCHR ran a seminar on this issue in July 2007 with a wide range of policy makers and practitioners to identify and debate key issues. These included the ability of councils and local communities to respond positively to the sudden and rapid changes brought about by A8 / A2 migration and the need to take action to address problems in the private rented sector.
- Developing a potential research project with OTB at Delft Technical University, in The Netherlands, on housing allocations and social segregation/community cohesion.
Choice Based Lettings
Dr Tim Brown and Nicola Yates have produced a briefing paper for the Housing Quality Network on the future of choice-based lettings (CBL), ‘Whither Choice’ (available online at http://www.strategynetwork.org.uk/briefings.php#Access_and_Choice). It argues that the debate needs to move onto the bigger picture rather than concentrating on detailed procedures and processes. There are opportunities to align CBL with sub-regional housing market studies, the Department of Health initiatives on personalised budgets and self-directed support, and the Government’s ‘better public services’ agenda.
Tim Brown is also advising Ashford Borough Council and Salford Borough Council on CBL.
Community Asset Trusts
Dr Tim Brown is advising North Shropshire District Council on the policy framework for establishing a district-wide community asset trust to help to maximise the provision of affordable housing following the successful completion of a large scale voluntary stock transfer.
For more information about the work of the Centre contact Ros Lishman, phone 0116 257 7434 or email rlishman@dmu.ac.uk, or visit http://www.cchr.net/ and http://www.dmu.ac.uk/.
Centre for Housing Policy, University of York
Appointments
Peter Williams joined CHP as an Honorary Professor in February 2007. Peter was Deputy Director General of Council of Mortgage Lenders for a period of 12 years to late 2006. He is now an independent consultant working in the areas of housing and mortgage markets, financial services and government relations. He holds a number of executive and non-executive positions. He will contribute to both research collaboration and strategic development within the Centre.
Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Director of CHP, has joined the European Observatory on Homelessness as one of ten European members. The Observatory was set up ten years ago, funded by FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless).
Mark Stephens, CHP’s Assistant Director, has been appointed Lead Member of the Housing and Communities Analysis Panel, one of three expert panels newly convened by CLG.
New Projects
Developing the Sustainable Home Ownership Partnership (funder: Joseph Rowntree Foundation)
A CHP team is developing the proposal for a Sustainable Home Ownership Partnership (SHOP) between mortgage lenders, home-owners and the government. SHOP is intended to provide a better safety net for home-owners than the current mix of ISMI and private insurance.
Evaluation of the Shelter London Prisons Project (Shelter)
CHP are conducting a three year evaluation of the Shelter London Prisons Project, a pilot initiative providing housing support to resettle women on release from HMP Holloway. The research involves a detailed monitoring exercise including tracking of former users, as well as focus groups with service users and staff and prison representatives.
The Influence of Neighbourhood on Health (Glasgow Centre for Population Health)
This literature review, adopts some of the methods of systematic reviewing, and considers how the evidence regarding the impact of the built environment at neighbourhood level of levels of health and well-being, physical activity and obesity.
Links between green spaces and health: a literature review (Greenspace Scotland)
This literature review will consider the impact of different aspects of urban greenspaces on health and well-being, including physical, mental, and social health.
Youth Homelessness in the UK (Joseph Rowntree Foundation/Centrepoint)
CHP, in collaboration with Centrepoint, is undertaking a review of youth homelessness across the UK. The research aims to assess the progress being made with alleviating homelessness in the four nations. It involves a desk-based review of statistical and other evidence on the scale, nature and trends in youth homelessness as well as six detailed local authority case studies and a consultation exercise with young people and key experts.
Private Rented Sector: solving or causing homelessness (Shelter)
On average, around 14 per cent of homeless households present as such with the PRS as their immediate past tenure. Research has been underway in collaboration with Shelter to review ‘crisis’ terminations of tenancies in the PRS and consider appropriate preventive measures.
Achieving mobility in the intermediate housing market (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)
The expansion of low cost homeownership (LCHO) is a key policy ambition and this research, will examine what facilitates or constrains the ability of people to move on from their initial subsidised purchases once their aspirations or circumstances change. The project will use survey, interview and focus group methods in six case study housing market areas across the UK.
Choice and constraint in non-permanent housing: attitudes towards mobile homes and residential boats (ESRC)
This research will explore the role that mobile homes and residential boats can play in terms of widening diversity and choice within housing markets. The project will last for 15 months and will examine residents' views and experiences, as well as the attitudes of public and private sector agencies towards these forms of accommodation.
Telling the story: a new retirement village (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)
This longitudinal project will “tell the story” of the early development of a new retirement village operated by the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust and Hartlepool Borough Council. It will examine the initial thinking and expectations around the development of the scheme from the perspective of key stakeholders and prospective residents, and consider how these expectations are met over time.
The impact of demographic change on housing (CLG)
This project will consider how the coming demographic changes will impact on housing. The outcomes of the project inform the forthcoming Housing Strategy for an Ageing Society currently being developed by CLG.
UK Housing Review
The UK Housing Review 2006/7 was published in December. As in previous years, a proportion of the contents is available online at http://www.ukhousingreview.org.uk/
Members are reminded that they are eligible for a 25% discount on this publication, if purchased via the HSA secretariat at CHP.
More information is available on the CHP website.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
Fitzpatrick, S. and Pawson, H. (2007) 'Welfare Safety Net or Tenure of Choice? The Dilemma Facing Social Housing Policy in England', Housing Studies, vol. 22, issue 2, pp163-182.
Holmans, A., Stephens, M. and Fitzpatrick, S. (2007) 'Housing Policy in England since 1975: An Introduction to the Special Issue ', Housing Studies, vol. 22, issue 2, pp147-162.
Jones, A., Elsinga, M., Quilgars, D. and Toussaint, J. (2007) 'Home owners' perceptions of and responses to risk', European Journal of Housing Policy, vol. 7, issue 2, pp129-150.
Quilgars, D. and Jones, A. (2007) 'Safe as houses? Perceptions of home ownership in the UK', in M. Elsinga, N. Teller, and J. Toussaint (eds) OSIS Qualitative Book (Descriptive Title Only), Delft: Delft University Press.
Stephens, M. (2007) 'Mortgage Market Deregulation and its Consequences', Housing Studies, vol. 22, issue 2, pp201-220.
Wilcox, S. (2007) Housing Market Affordability in Northern Ireland, Belfast: Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
