Communities and Local Government and the Royal Statistical Society are supporting the set up of a new Housing Statistics Network to be launched at a free half day seminar at the RSS on the afternoon of 26th Feb 2010.
This initiative aims to address the lack of representation from users of housing statistics at the Statistics Users Forum - a situation which has meant that this important area has lacked the opportunities for dialogue between data users and providers that have been valuable for other subjects.
Details of the seminar, the registration form and Aims and Objectives of the HSN, along with other background information are all at
http://www.msjconsultancy.co.uk/
Click on HSN in the navigation bar at the head of the page.
As part of the HSN initiative a new Internet Forum has just been established. Housing statistics users/providers are invited to use it to give feedback on the proposed HSN Aims and Objectives and to feel free to start new discussion topics. You'll find it here:
http://www.housingstatisticsnetwork.co.uk/
If you have an interest in housing statistics you can support this new initiative by registering for the launch seminar or the Network or using the Internet Forum - or all three.
Thursday 28 January 2010
REVIEW: STUDENT HOUSING AND THE LAW
Student Housing and the Law
Martin Davis and Graham Robson (2009)
Shelter
Hardback ISBN 978-1903595770
With almost 2 million students involved in full time higher education this guide to student housing has a ready audience, many members of which will know precious little about their rights and obligations under the law.
This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of student housing for both students, advisers and, although unstated, landlords. It stresses that the relationships it covers are essentially legal but reminds the reader that many of the issues that might arise can be dealt with by good communication between the parties involved.
The book is structured in a straightforward way, using a number of important themes to then illustrate the main legal issues. The coverage it provides is good, ranging as it does from types of accommodation, providers, both educational institutions and other landlords, to matters to do with setting up tenancies, rents, rights and responsibilities, management issues, conditions and ending lettings. There is also a useful section that identifies some prominent issues to do with deposits, co-housing conditions and HMOs, with a brief overview and discussion of each.
The content of each of the sections provides very helpful information whatever the reader’s perspective. For example, there is a section covering the relationship between university disciplinary regulations and students living in halls of residence. Furthermore, reference is made to the voluntary standards to which universities and colleges can conform by signing up to the accreditation schemes run by Universities UK or the Accreditation Network UK.
This is also a handy list of contacts towards the end of the book; a glossary of terms would be useful as would a detailed list of references.
Whilst the content is good I can’t help feeling that the guide would benefit from more of the good illustrative cases to help those coming cold to the topic to understand this complex subject. By relating some of the intricate issues to real life instances would be of immense benefit to lay readers and to university accommodation staff, some of whom I have experience of teaching. One way of doing this might have been to use more of the many references to legal cases and to convert them into accessible illustrative cases.
In spite of my praise for the guide’s utility I find myself wondering about other things that it ought to have covered. Among the issues that have been overlooked is any detailed consideration of equalities, in particular the requirements placed on housing providers by the Disability Discrimination Acts. This strikes me as a significant omission because universities and colleges are obliged to provide support to disabled students, especially opportunities to support their learning. A cursory glance at some university websites confirms support is also provided in terms of living needs. There has been a missed opportunity to set out duties placed on landlords, especially in the private rented sector, by the law and Equality and Human Rights Commission Codes of Practice in this book.
Similarly, it would have been of benefit to have seen some discussion of other forms of discrimination that may occur in student housing, both provided by institutions and private landlords. It needs more guidance about what not to do when allocating and letting properties, or how to be sensitive to different cultural needs, or when housing students from overseas.
Last gripe: it would add to the guide if there were some consideration of what should happen when students are on the receiving end of bullying, harassment or anti-social behaviour as opposed to being assumed perpetrators of the latter. What role does the university have in dealing with these; what are landlord duties; what can other agencies do to help? What happens if a student becomes homeless as result of actions against them of this sort?
All things considered this is a very good guide that I would expect to be an essential tool to be used by university accommodation officers and student union welfare officers alike. From a teaching and learning perspective I also anticipate it being a core text to use when teaching university accommodation officers; in fact it will be the only text other than the now dated Student Rights Guide, also published by Shelter, to which I guess this must be the successor.
In closing, I’d like to refer back to the authors’ observation noted in the opening to this review that everything to do with student housing and the law is essentially relational; it involves interaction between landlord and tenant. Managing those relationships, whether you are a landlord or a tenant is quite a skill, so perhaps some advice about how to do this would have been valuable with again some examples that would help both parties avoid ending up dealing with the complex and expensive world of the law.
Steve McCann
Senior Lecturer in Housing Studies & HE Programme Manager
Centre for Housing and Support
Martin Davis and Graham Robson (2009)
Shelter
Hardback ISBN 978-1903595770
With almost 2 million students involved in full time higher education this guide to student housing has a ready audience, many members of which will know precious little about their rights and obligations under the law.
This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of student housing for both students, advisers and, although unstated, landlords. It stresses that the relationships it covers are essentially legal but reminds the reader that many of the issues that might arise can be dealt with by good communication between the parties involved.
The book is structured in a straightforward way, using a number of important themes to then illustrate the main legal issues. The coverage it provides is good, ranging as it does from types of accommodation, providers, both educational institutions and other landlords, to matters to do with setting up tenancies, rents, rights and responsibilities, management issues, conditions and ending lettings. There is also a useful section that identifies some prominent issues to do with deposits, co-housing conditions and HMOs, with a brief overview and discussion of each.
The content of each of the sections provides very helpful information whatever the reader’s perspective. For example, there is a section covering the relationship between university disciplinary regulations and students living in halls of residence. Furthermore, reference is made to the voluntary standards to which universities and colleges can conform by signing up to the accreditation schemes run by Universities UK or the Accreditation Network UK.
This is also a handy list of contacts towards the end of the book; a glossary of terms would be useful as would a detailed list of references.
Whilst the content is good I can’t help feeling that the guide would benefit from more of the good illustrative cases to help those coming cold to the topic to understand this complex subject. By relating some of the intricate issues to real life instances would be of immense benefit to lay readers and to university accommodation staff, some of whom I have experience of teaching. One way of doing this might have been to use more of the many references to legal cases and to convert them into accessible illustrative cases.
In spite of my praise for the guide’s utility I find myself wondering about other things that it ought to have covered. Among the issues that have been overlooked is any detailed consideration of equalities, in particular the requirements placed on housing providers by the Disability Discrimination Acts. This strikes me as a significant omission because universities and colleges are obliged to provide support to disabled students, especially opportunities to support their learning. A cursory glance at some university websites confirms support is also provided in terms of living needs. There has been a missed opportunity to set out duties placed on landlords, especially in the private rented sector, by the law and Equality and Human Rights Commission Codes of Practice in this book.
Similarly, it would have been of benefit to have seen some discussion of other forms of discrimination that may occur in student housing, both provided by institutions and private landlords. It needs more guidance about what not to do when allocating and letting properties, or how to be sensitive to different cultural needs, or when housing students from overseas.
Last gripe: it would add to the guide if there were some consideration of what should happen when students are on the receiving end of bullying, harassment or anti-social behaviour as opposed to being assumed perpetrators of the latter. What role does the university have in dealing with these; what are landlord duties; what can other agencies do to help? What happens if a student becomes homeless as result of actions against them of this sort?
All things considered this is a very good guide that I would expect to be an essential tool to be used by university accommodation officers and student union welfare officers alike. From a teaching and learning perspective I also anticipate it being a core text to use when teaching university accommodation officers; in fact it will be the only text other than the now dated Student Rights Guide, also published by Shelter, to which I guess this must be the successor.
In closing, I’d like to refer back to the authors’ observation noted in the opening to this review that everything to do with student housing and the law is essentially relational; it involves interaction between landlord and tenant. Managing those relationships, whether you are a landlord or a tenant is quite a skill, so perhaps some advice about how to do this would have been valuable with again some examples that would help both parties avoid ending up dealing with the complex and expensive world of the law.
Steve McCann
Senior Lecturer in Housing Studies & HE Programme Manager
Centre for Housing and Support
POSTGRADUATE SMALL GRANTS SCHEME
The SPA is pleased to announce the introduction, from January 2010, of a Postgraduate Small Grants Scheme to run alongside the existing Standard Small Grants Scheme.
The Standard and Postgraduate Small Grants Schemes are designed to help fund seminars and workshops dealing with research and/or learning & teaching in a way that is of benefit to the social policy community and SPA members. The focus should be on activities that will benefit a group or network rather than individuals. In 2010, applications for awards to support events with an international focus and/or to facilitate attendance from overseas, are particularly encouraged.
Funds will be made available in two rounds of applications over the year. Round one runs from 1st January to 30th June and round two from 1st July to 31st December. Applications are welcomed at any point within each award period, and funds are allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Each award offers a maximum of £500.
Applications are now invited for Round One 2010.
Full details of the schemes' terms and conditions are available on the SPA website: http://www.social-policy.com/gracond.aspx
Queries and applications should be sent to the SPA Small Grants Officer, Majella Kilkey, by email at M.M.Kilkey@hull.ac.uk
The Standard and Postgraduate Small Grants Schemes are designed to help fund seminars and workshops dealing with research and/or learning & teaching in a way that is of benefit to the social policy community and SPA members. The focus should be on activities that will benefit a group or network rather than individuals. In 2010, applications for awards to support events with an international focus and/or to facilitate attendance from overseas, are particularly encouraged.
Funds will be made available in two rounds of applications over the year. Round one runs from 1st January to 30th June and round two from 1st July to 31st December. Applications are welcomed at any point within each award period, and funds are allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Each award offers a maximum of £500.
Applications are now invited for Round One 2010.
Full details of the schemes' terms and conditions are available on the SPA website: http://www.social-policy.com/gracond.aspx
Queries and applications should be sent to the SPA Small Grants Officer, Majella Kilkey, by email at M.M.Kilkey@hull.ac.uk
SPA Conference 2010
Social Policy in Times of Change
5-7 July 2010, University of Lincoln, UK
Call for papers
The Social Policy Association’s Annual Conference will be held at the University of Lincoln from 5-7 July 2010. The plenary speakers for this year’s event will be Professor Peter Dreier (Occidental College, Los Angeles), Professor Ruth Lister (University of Loughborough), and Dr Branko Milanovic (World Bank).
Proposals are invited for papers on any aspect of social policy. We particularly encourage proposals reflecting high quality research or which explore questions of social policy in practice or the teaching of social policy. In 2010, in addition to standard papers, we are also calling for proposals for symposia, with three or four abstracts linked to a particular theme. Symposia will potentially allow participants to engage more deeply with their special interests.
For papers, abstracts of up to 400 words indicating the appropriate stream should be submitted as an email attachment to SPA2010@lincoln.ac.uk. Proposals for symposia should consist of a 200 word outline of the aims of the symposium together with the relevant abstracts. Proposals will be reviewed by a Programme Committee prior to acceptance. The closing date for the submission of abstracts and proposals is Friday 12 February 2010. Full papers must be submitted in pdf form by 18 June 2010. All proposals will be reviewed by a small team before approval.
Streams:
1. Children and families
2. Work, economy and welfare
3. Governance and the policy process
4. Comparative social policy
5. Poverty, inequalities and human rights
6. User perspectives
7. Teaching and learning
8. Health and social care
9. Innovations in social policy research
10. Crime, policing and criminal justice
11. Housing and welfare
12. Ageing and the lifecourse
13. Demographic and environmental change
14. Service design, delivery and use
15. The future of social policy
16. Open stream
Further information about the conference can be found at: www.lincoln.ac.uk/conferences/spa2010.
Booking information will shortly be available on this web site
5-7 July 2010, University of Lincoln, UK
Call for papers
The Social Policy Association’s Annual Conference will be held at the University of Lincoln from 5-7 July 2010. The plenary speakers for this year’s event will be Professor Peter Dreier (Occidental College, Los Angeles), Professor Ruth Lister (University of Loughborough), and Dr Branko Milanovic (World Bank).
Proposals are invited for papers on any aspect of social policy. We particularly encourage proposals reflecting high quality research or which explore questions of social policy in practice or the teaching of social policy. In 2010, in addition to standard papers, we are also calling for proposals for symposia, with three or four abstracts linked to a particular theme. Symposia will potentially allow participants to engage more deeply with their special interests.
For papers, abstracts of up to 400 words indicating the appropriate stream should be submitted as an email attachment to SPA2010@lincoln.ac.uk. Proposals for symposia should consist of a 200 word outline of the aims of the symposium together with the relevant abstracts. Proposals will be reviewed by a Programme Committee prior to acceptance. The closing date for the submission of abstracts and proposals is Friday 12 February 2010. Full papers must be submitted in pdf form by 18 June 2010. All proposals will be reviewed by a small team before approval.
Streams:
1. Children and families
2. Work, economy and welfare
3. Governance and the policy process
4. Comparative social policy
5. Poverty, inequalities and human rights
6. User perspectives
7. Teaching and learning
8. Health and social care
9. Innovations in social policy research
10. Crime, policing and criminal justice
11. Housing and welfare
12. Ageing and the lifecourse
13. Demographic and environmental change
14. Service design, delivery and use
15. The future of social policy
16. Open stream
Further information about the conference can be found at: www.lincoln.ac.uk/conferences/spa2010.
Booking information will shortly be available on this web site
UK HOUSING REVIEW 2009/10
The UK Housing Review provides the key information for busy managers and policy makers. This 18th edition brings together the most up-to-date housing statistics available for England (and its regions), Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It features over 200 charts and tables including data about:
UK and international economic trends
Public expenditure plans
Housing stock and conditions
Housing characteristics and incomes
House prices and market trends
Rents and revenue spending
Subsidies, tax relief and benefits
Homelessness and lettings
Housing investment by councils and housing associations
In addition to commentary on current trends, Steve Wilcox and other commentators give their views on ten years of devolved housing policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, stock transfer, the prospects for reform of council housing finance, and the effects of the continuing ‘credit crunch’.
‘At a time of growing public concern about Britain’s housing needs and how these can best be met, the importance of good, up-to-date information and perceptive analysis of market trends and relevant financial data cannot be over-emphasised. The UK Housing Review compiled and edited by Steve Wilcox admirably fulfils this role.’ Nick Raynsford, MP and former minister.
Discount price to Housing Studies Association members only: £27.00 plus £5.00 p&p for UK (normal price is £45 plus postage).
Contact Katharine.Walsh@cih.org or on 024 7685 1752 to order your copy and claim your HSA discount
It features over 200 charts and tables including data about:
UK and international economic trends
Public expenditure plans
Housing stock and conditions
Housing characteristics and incomes
House prices and market trends
Rents and revenue spending
Subsidies, tax relief and benefits
Homelessness and lettings
Housing investment by councils and housing associations
In addition to commentary on current trends, Steve Wilcox and other commentators give their views on ten years of devolved housing policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, stock transfer, the prospects for reform of council housing finance, and the effects of the continuing ‘credit crunch’.
‘At a time of growing public concern about Britain’s housing needs and how these can best be met, the importance of good, up-to-date information and perceptive analysis of market trends and relevant financial data cannot be over-emphasised. The UK Housing Review compiled and edited by Steve Wilcox admirably fulfils this role.’ Nick Raynsford, MP and former minister.
Discount price to Housing Studies Association members only: £27.00 plus £5.00 p&p for UK (normal price is £45 plus postage).
Contact Katharine.Walsh@cih.org or on 024 7685 1752 to order your copy and claim your HSA discount
NEWS FROM CIH
Housing, Schools and Communities
A new Policy into Practice report on Housing, Schools and Communities has recently been published. The report examines the significant contribution to the success of neighbourhoods and communities that can be achieved through effective working between schools and housing providers, and highlights where both sectors share aspirations around tacking issues such as youth homelessness, social inclusion and community cohesion. Examples of existing partnership arrangements between schools and social landlords are used throughout to illustrate the report. Available to download:
http://www.cih.org/policy/fpp-HousingSchoolComtys-nov09.pdf
Transforming Estates
A new research report highlights the need for continued public investment in regeneration throughout the recession and in the face of expected public spending cuts, to ensure that longer-term gains for deprived communities are not jeopardised.Transforming Estates, a report by CIH and ECOTEC, urges policy makers to take a longer term perspective on regeneration and to commit to continued public investment in major regeneration schemes, beyond the current need for short-term rescue while private finance is restricted. Available to download here
http://www.cih.org/policy/fpp-TransLargeEsts-oct09.pdf
Housing, Health and Care
Housing Health and Care is a new report from CIH and the DH's Housing LIN look at taking a strategic approach to planning for sustainable communities - by integrating the development and delivery of services across housing, support, care and health. It aims to help professionals tackle the 'too difficult' area of more fully integrating and using the benefits of housing and related support, to deliver on the agenda of Putting People First. The role of housing is crucial for the increased focus on prevention and early response to problems. The report is
available here: http://www.cih.org/policy/fpp-HousingHealthCare-Dec09.pdf
A new Policy into Practice report on Housing, Schools and Communities has recently been published. The report examines the significant contribution to the success of neighbourhoods and communities that can be achieved through effective working between schools and housing providers, and highlights where both sectors share aspirations around tacking issues such as youth homelessness, social inclusion and community cohesion. Examples of existing partnership arrangements between schools and social landlords are used throughout to illustrate the report. Available to download:
http://www.cih.org/policy/fpp-HousingSchoolComtys-nov09.pdf
Transforming Estates
A new research report highlights the need for continued public investment in regeneration throughout the recession and in the face of expected public spending cuts, to ensure that longer-term gains for deprived communities are not jeopardised.Transforming Estates, a report by CIH and ECOTEC, urges policy makers to take a longer term perspective on regeneration and to commit to continued public investment in major regeneration schemes, beyond the current need for short-term rescue while private finance is restricted. Available to download here
http://www.cih.org/policy/fpp-TransLargeEsts-oct09.pdf
Housing, Health and Care
Housing Health and Care is a new report from CIH and the DH's Housing LIN look at taking a strategic approach to planning for sustainable communities - by integrating the development and delivery of services across housing, support, care and health. It aims to help professionals tackle the 'too difficult' area of more fully integrating and using the benefits of housing and related support, to deliver on the agenda of Putting People First. The role of housing is crucial for the increased focus on prevention and early response to problems. The report is
available here: http://www.cih.org/policy/fpp-HousingHealthCare-Dec09.pdf
NEWS FROM THE NI HOUSING EXECUTIVE
Housing Research Bulletin – 9th Edition
The most recent edition of the Housing Research Bulletin summarises a number of short reports on the private rented sector in Northern Ireland, produced by the University of Ulster for the Housing Executive. The findings point towards a sector that fulfils a vital role in catering for a range of needs, and raise questions on how best to support the quality private rented sector that will continue to be a very necessary part of Northern Ireland’s housing market.
On a similar, sustainability-related theme, other articles in this edition of the Research Bulletin consider the impacts of second homes north and south of the border in Ireland, new evidence on the level of segregation in Housing Executive estates outside Belfast, and the measurement of ‘social assets’ at local level in Northern Ireland.
It can be accessed at: www.nihe.gov.uk/housing_bulletin_autumn_09_.pdf
Continuous Tenant Omnibus Survey
The 2008 Continuous Tenant Omnibus Survey (CTOS) was the fifteenth comprehensive assessment of the attitudes of Housing Executive tenants to be carried out since 1994. As well as gathering views on the Executive’s service provision, the survey provides a useful socio-economic profile of Housing Executive tenants.
www.nihe.gov.uk/continuous_tenant_omnibus_survey_annual_report_2008__november_2009_.pdf
Migrant Workers and the Housing Market: A Case Study of Dungannon
There has been no comprehensive study of the effect of the rapid increase in the number of migrant workers on Northern Ireland’s housing market. This research goes some way to address this issue. Using Dungannon as a case study, it examines the impact that migrant workers have had on the local housing market, provides an insight into their current housing circumstances and gives a preliminary indication of their future housing needs.
www.nihe.gov.uk/migrant_workers_and_the_housing_market_-_a_case_study_of_dungannon.pdf
Performance of the Private Rental Market (Belfast Metropolitan Area)
This report examines the developments in the private rental market January-June 2009. It indicates that in line with other parts of the UK average rent levels have declined a little.
www.nihe.gov.uk/rental_report_jan-june_09.pdf
The Private Rented Sector in Northern Ireland
This important suite of new research publications deals with aspects of privately rented accommodation and the experiences of tenants.
Introduction and Background
www.nihe.gov.uk/private_rented_sector_in_northern_ireland_report_1_introduction_and_background_to_research_series__published_july_2009_.pdf
Stock Profile and Physical Condition Report
www.nihe.gov.uk/private_rented_sector_in_northern_ireland_report_2_stock_profile_and_physical_condition_report__published_july_2009_.pdf
Socio-economic Profile of Private Sector Tenants
www.nihe.gov.uk/private_rented_sector_in_northern_ireland_report_3_socio-economic_profile_of_tenants_in_the_private_rented_sector__published_july_2009_.pdf
Living in the Private Rented Sector
www.nihe.gov.uk/private_rented_sector_in_northern_ireland_report_4_living_in_the_private_rented_sector_-_the_experiences_of_tenants__published_august_2009_.pdf
Stick, Twist or Bust: Final Report
This study looks at the impact of falling grant rates and the efficiency agenda on the ability of small and medium-sized housing associations in England to develop new social housing. This final report consolidates previous working papers and offers a commentary on the significance of the findings for the housing association sector in Northern Ireland.
www.nihe.gov.uk/stick_twist_or_bust_-_final_report.pdf
The most recent edition of the Housing Research Bulletin summarises a number of short reports on the private rented sector in Northern Ireland, produced by the University of Ulster for the Housing Executive. The findings point towards a sector that fulfils a vital role in catering for a range of needs, and raise questions on how best to support the quality private rented sector that will continue to be a very necessary part of Northern Ireland’s housing market.
On a similar, sustainability-related theme, other articles in this edition of the Research Bulletin consider the impacts of second homes north and south of the border in Ireland, new evidence on the level of segregation in Housing Executive estates outside Belfast, and the measurement of ‘social assets’ at local level in Northern Ireland.
It can be accessed at: www.nihe.gov.uk/housing_bulletin_autumn_09_.pdf
Continuous Tenant Omnibus Survey
The 2008 Continuous Tenant Omnibus Survey (CTOS) was the fifteenth comprehensive assessment of the attitudes of Housing Executive tenants to be carried out since 1994. As well as gathering views on the Executive’s service provision, the survey provides a useful socio-economic profile of Housing Executive tenants.
www.nihe.gov.uk/continuous_tenant_omnibus_survey_annual_report_2008__november_2009_.pdf
Migrant Workers and the Housing Market: A Case Study of Dungannon
There has been no comprehensive study of the effect of the rapid increase in the number of migrant workers on Northern Ireland’s housing market. This research goes some way to address this issue. Using Dungannon as a case study, it examines the impact that migrant workers have had on the local housing market, provides an insight into their current housing circumstances and gives a preliminary indication of their future housing needs.
www.nihe.gov.uk/migrant_workers_and_the_housing_market_-_a_case_study_of_dungannon.pdf
Performance of the Private Rental Market (Belfast Metropolitan Area)
This report examines the developments in the private rental market January-June 2009. It indicates that in line with other parts of the UK average rent levels have declined a little.
www.nihe.gov.uk/rental_report_jan-june_09.pdf
The Private Rented Sector in Northern Ireland
This important suite of new research publications deals with aspects of privately rented accommodation and the experiences of tenants.
Introduction and Background
www.nihe.gov.uk/private_rented_sector_in_northern_ireland_report_1_introduction_and_background_to_research_series__published_july_2009_.pdf
Stock Profile and Physical Condition Report
www.nihe.gov.uk/private_rented_sector_in_northern_ireland_report_2_stock_profile_and_physical_condition_report__published_july_2009_.pdf
Socio-economic Profile of Private Sector Tenants
www.nihe.gov.uk/private_rented_sector_in_northern_ireland_report_3_socio-economic_profile_of_tenants_in_the_private_rented_sector__published_july_2009_.pdf
Living in the Private Rented Sector
www.nihe.gov.uk/private_rented_sector_in_northern_ireland_report_4_living_in_the_private_rented_sector_-_the_experiences_of_tenants__published_august_2009_.pdf
Stick, Twist or Bust: Final Report
This study looks at the impact of falling grant rates and the efficiency agenda on the ability of small and medium-sized housing associations in England to develop new social housing. This final report consolidates previous working papers and offers a commentary on the significance of the findings for the housing association sector in Northern Ireland.
www.nihe.gov.uk/stick_twist_or_bust_-_final_report.pdf
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