Module Code & Title: SS6057 – Housing and Homelessness Policy Assignment

SS6057 Assessment 1: Literature review (30%)

You should write a 1000-word review on ONE of the following key course texts: (or if you have identified a book on housing which you would like to review, this can be done as long as it is agreed with the module leader)

Boughton. J (2018) Municipal Dreams. The Rise and Fall of Council Housing. Verso.

OR

Minton. A (2017) Big Capital. Penguin Books.

OR

Lund. B (2019) Housing in the United Kingdom. Whose Crisis? Palgrave Macmillan.

OR

Madden. D and Marcuse P (2016) In Defense of Housing. Verso

OR

Shelter (2019) A vision for social housing. Shelter

The literature review involves you writing a SUMMARY of the aim of the book or report including the key points and argument presented by the author. You need to read and summarise the Introduction and at least TWO chapters in your review. If you choose to review the Shelter (2019) report, you need to review the whole report.

SS6057 Assessment 2: Essay (70%)

You should write a 2000-word essay

You should choose ONE essay title (again, if there is a particular aspect of housing and housing policy not covered below that you would like to write your essay on, please discuss with the module leader)

Discuss why housing is a key driver of poverty in London and the UK and how housing policy can be a key tool in poverty reduction.

Housing is a significant contributor to poverty since a high proportion of household income is spent on housing costs, especially in London, where rents and house prices are particularly high. The affordability crisis is becoming a bigger challenge in England, with over 1.34 million households waiting for social housing in 2025, including over 336,000 in London (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 2025). Many families are living below the poverty line once housing expenses are subtracted from income (Hills, 2017). Housing policy is a way of addressing poverty by providing more social housing, providing housing benefits, rent regulation, and the development of affordable housing. Social housing is cheaper to rent than the private sector, which can lessen financial burden and homelessness and ultimately have a positive impact on social and economic outcomes over the long term (Tunstall, 2015; Fitzpatrick et al, 2019).

References

• Fitzpatrick, S., Pawson, H., Bramley, G., Watts, B., Blenkinsopp, J., Stephens, M. and Wood, J. (2019). Homelessness Monitor Scotland 2019.
• Hills, J. (2017). Good times, bad times: The welfare myth of them and us. Policy Press.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2025) Social Housing Lettings in England 2024–25. London: MHCLG.
• Tunstall, R. (2015) The UK Housing Review 2015. Coventry: Chartered Institute of Housing.

In what ways has Covid-19 highlighted the impact of housing inequalities on public health?

The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the links between housing inequities and poor health outcomes. Those living in overcrowded homes had more problems keeping themselves and others physically separated and socially distanced, and had higher infection rates (Wilson and Barton, 2021). Poor housing conditions and overcrowding disproportionately affected low-income and ethnic minority households as they were more likely to be affected (Marmot et al., 2020). Poor space conditions, dampness, and poor air exchange negatively impacted physical and psychological well-being during lockdown periods. The study revealed that during the pandemic, approximately 31% of UK adults suffered from housing-related physical or mental health issues (What Works Wellbeing, 2021). The pandemic Covid-19 showed that housing is a key social determinant of health, and poor housing conditions compounded existing health inequalities in society (Power et al., 2023).

References

• Marmot, M., Allen, J., Goldblatt, P., Herd, E. and Morrison, J. (2020) Build Back Fairer: The COVID-19 Marmot Review – The Pandemic, Socioeconomic and Health Inequalities in England. London: Institute of Health Equity.
• Power, M., Doherty, B., Pybus, K.J. and Pickett, K.E. (2023). How COVID-19 has exposed inequalities in the UK food system: The case of UK food and poverty. Emerald Open Research, 1(10).
• What Works Wellbeing (2021) COVID-19 and Wellbeing Inequalities: Housing. London: What Works Wellbeing.
• Wilson, W. and Barton, C. (2021) Overcrowded Housing (England). London: House of Commons Library.

Outline and discuss the ways in which housing reflects and reinforces wider social class and/or ethnic and/or gender inequalities in society?

Housing reproduces and reinforces social class, ethnic and gender disparities in access to housing quality, affordability and home ownership. There is also a strong association between income and a higher proportion of people in lower-income bands reporting overcrowding, living in poor-quality housing, and a higher share of income spent on housing (Ronald and Dewilde, 2017). There are ethnic inequalities in the rates of householders living in their own homes: In England, 68% of White British households were owned by their occupants in 2021, compared with 41% of Pakistani households and 20% of Black African households (ONS, 2023). There are also considerable differences in terms of gender, with women, especially lone mothers, over-represented in temporary accommodation and being more vulnerable to housing insecurity (Mullins and Murie, 2017). These disparities impact health, education, employment opportunities and accumulation of wealth, leading to disadvantage across generations (Somerville, 2016).

References

• Mullins, D. and Murie, A., 2017. Housing Policy in the UK. Bloomsbury Publishing.
• Ronald, R. and Dewilde, C., 2017. Why housing wealth and welfare?. In Housing wealth and welfare (pp. 1-34). Edward Elgar Publishing.
• Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023) Housing and Home Ownership in England and Wales. London: ONS.
• Somerville, P., 2016. Understanding community: Politics, policy and practice. Policy Press.

Discuss why housing has been called the ‘wobbly pillar’ of the welfare state in the UK?

Housing, along with other areas of welfare provision, has been termed the ‘wobbly pillar’ of the UK welfare state because it has never been offered as a right for everyone and has experienced more dramatic policy movements than any other area of welfare (Malpass, 2008). Following the Second World War, council housing played a significant part in the provision of welfare, although this function was reduced subsequently with the advent of the Right to Buy policy in 1980, where more than 2 million council houses were sold without any comparable alternative. (Lowe, 2011) This resulted in a loss of social housing and an increased demand. In England, by 2025, there were over 1,340,000 households on social housing waiting lists (MHCLG, 2025). With the increased use of the private rented sector and housing benefit, housing has become the least stable part of the welfare State (Harmele, 2008).

References

• Harloe, M. (2008). The people’s home?: social rented housing in Europe and America. John Wiley & Sons.
• Lowe, S. (2011) The Housing Debate. Bristol: Policy Press.
• Malpass, P. (2008). Housing and the new welfare state: Wobbly pillar or cornerstone?. Housing studies, 23(1), pp.1-19.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) (2025) Social Housing Lettings in England 2024–25. London: MHCLG.

Why is 1979 seen by many as the most significant date in the history of post-war housing policy in the UK?

The year 1979 is generally accepted as a pivotal year in the history of UK housing policy, as it led to a move away from state provision of housing and towards market-led housing policies due to the election of Margaret Thatcher. The Conservative government encouraged people to become homeowners and launched the Right to Buy scheme in the Housing Act 1980, which enabled council tenants to be able to buy their homes at a discount (Forrest and Murie, 2014). The policy saw the sale of over 2 million council homes, which in turn led to a substantial decline in the number of social homes (Lowe, 2011). There was also a reduction in public investment in council housing and a shift to the private housing market and the responsibility of the individual (Malpass, 2006). These changes had a profound impact on housing tenure, led to a rise in home ownership, and set the foundations for some of the housing affordability and supply issues that are faced today in the UK.

References

• Forrest, R. and Murie, A. (2014). Selling the welfare state: The privatisation of public housing. Routledge.
• Lowe, S. (2011) The Housing Debate. Bristol: Policy Press.
• Malpass, P. (2006). Housing policy in an ‘opportunity society’. J. Doling and M, Elsinga (eds) Home Ownership, Getting in, Getting from, Getting out, Part, 2.

Examine the impact of neo-liberalism on housing policy in the UK since the 1980s.

Since the 1980s, the UK’s housing policy has undergone a major transformation under the influence of the neo-liberal agenda, which focuses more on market solutions, homeownership and less on the state. In 1980, the Right to Buy scheme was introduced by the Conservative government, allowing more than 2 million council houses to be for sale, but reducing the powers of local authorities to replace them (Forrest and Murie, 2014). Housing policy began to focus more and more on housing benefits and promoting private sector development rather than directly providing social housing. This led to a sharp reduction in the proportion of social housing (from approximately 31% of housing in 1981 to less than 17% currently), with a significant increase in the number of private rented homes (UK Housing Review, 2024). The critics contend that these policies helped to create affordability issues, housing insecurity and increased housing access inequities (Lowe, 2011).

References

• Forrest, R. and Murie, A. (2014). Selling the welfare state: The privatisation of public housing. Routledge.
• Lowe, S. (2011) The Housing Debate. Bristol: Policy Press.

Is building more social housing a panacea to the current housing crisis in the UK?

The creation of more social housing is a crucial solution to the housing crisis, but not the only solution. Social housing can help to lower housing costs, homelessness and housing waiting lists, which in England were over 1.34 million households in 2025 (MHCLG, 2025). It also offers secure tenancies and low-cost rents to low-income populations (Watts et al., 2025). But planning restrictions, land prices, regional disparities, population growth and speculative investment in the housing market also contribute to the housing crisis (Whitehead et al., 2019). So there is a need to increase the supply of social housing, but there is also a need for a more general overhaul of the housing system, for example, in the areas of planning, tenants’ rights, investment in infrastructure and policies to make housing more affordable for all tenures. Social housing is not a solution to all aspects of the crisis.

References

• MHCLG (2025) Social Housing Lettings in England 2024–25. London: MHCLG.
• Watts, B., Bramley, G., Pawson, H., Young, G., Sims, R., McMordie, L. and Fitzpatrick, S. (2025) The Homelessness Monitor: England 2025. London: Crisis.
• Whitehead, C., Williams, P. and London, L.S.E. (2019). From ideas to reality: longer term tenancies and rent stabilisation–principles and practical considerations. A report for the RLA. London Scool of Economics & Residential Landlords Association.

Discuss the main causes of the current housing crisis in London and the UK.

The UK housing crisis is the result of a long-term imbalance of housing supply and demand. Housebuilding has never been able to deliver enough houses to meet the population and household growth rates, especially when compared with London (Barker, 2004). Social housing has been lost as a result of the Right to Buy scheme, as the value of land has increased and planning has become more restrictive, leading to a reduction in the supply of affordable housing. The overall picture of house prices in London is far from being average and getting even more difficult to afford. The rising private rents, population growth, and investment demand have also worsened affordability concerns (Dorling, 2014). Homelessness, overcrowding and long wait lists have been a result of the lack of affordable housing. Therefore, the housing problem is a problem of supply and overall structural disparities in the housing market.

References

• Barker, K. (2004) Review of Housing Supply. London: HM Treasury.
• Dorling, D. (2014) All That Is Solid: The Great Housing Disaster. London: Allen Lane.

Minton (2017. p.xiv) argues that in the UK ‘housing is now, first and foremost a financial asset, a safety box for the super-rich’ Discuss the impact of the financialisation and commodification of in London.

The financialisation of housing is the phenomenon whereby housing is regarded as an investment asset instead of a social need. Residential properties are becoming a way for domestic and international investors to store wealth in London, which has led to an increase in house prices and a decrease in affordability (Minton, 2017). The use of property as a means of capital accumulation has led to increased speculation and luxury development, where not all properties are fully occupied (Aalbers, 2016). This has contributed to growing social inequalities, pushing out many citizens from the market of real estate and leaving more people dependent on the private rented sector. Financialisation is also a factor in gentrification and displacement in many neighbourhoods of London (Fields and Uffer, 2016). Housing has thus become not merely a shelter, but an increasingly financialised commodity.

References

• Aalbers, M.B. (2016). The Financialization of Housing. London: Routledge.
• Fields, D. and Uffer, S. (2016) ‘The financialisation of rental housing’, Urban Studies, 53(7), pp. 1486–1502.
• Minton, A. (2017) Big Capital. London: Penguin.

Examine the impact of recent welfare reforms on tenants in the private and social rented sectors.

New welfare changes have greatly impacted both social and private tenants. Benefit caps, the under-occupancy charge (or ‘bedroom tax’) and the freezing of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) all contributed to the financial squeeze on many low-income households (Beatty and Fothergill, 2016). Households facing housing support had, on average, a gap in their housing support payments of 35% of the cost of their rent, which contributed to rent arrears and a higher risk of homelessness (Watts et al., 2025). The bedroom tax had a significant impact on social housing tenants: households with spare rooms saw their benefits cut (Gibb, 2015). Housing reform advocates say that the changes have made housing more precarious and have made it harder to afford a home, while critics say that the changes have led to lower employment rates and inefficient use of housing.

References

• Beatty, C. and Fothergill, S. (2016). The uneven impact of welfare reform: The financial losses to places and people. Sheffield Hallam University.
• Gibb, K. (2015). The multiple policy failures of the UK bedroom tax. International Journal of Housing Policy, 15(2), pp.148-166.
• Watts, B., Bramley, G., Pawson, H., Young, G., Sims, R., McMordie, L. and Fitzpatrick, S. (2025) The Homelessness Monitor: England 2025. London: Crisis.

Outline recent trends in and the underlying causes of homelessness and discuss the policy options for reducing homelessness.

The number of homeless people has risen dramatically in the UK in the last 10 years. The number of households in temporary accommodation in England rose to over 126,000 in 2024 (MHCLG, 2025), the highest level ever recorded. Key drivers of homelessness are rising private rents, lack of affordable housing, welfare reforms, relationship breakdown, and insecure work. Structural conditions (such as poverty, housing shortage) are seen as more important than the individual circumstances. Both policy options and the combined package of measures involve more social housing, further housing benefit support, better tenant protections and increased prevention services. The Housing First model, which provides permanent housing alongside support services, has shown positive outcomes in reducing chronic homelessness (Pleace, 2016). To solve the housing affordability problem, we need to tackle the broader socioeconomic disparities along with it.

References

• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) (2025) Statutory Homelessness in England: Financial Year 2024–25. London: MHCLG.
• Pleace, N., 2016. Housing first guide Europe.

Critically evaluate the impact of recent policies to demolish and rebuild council housing estates, using examples.

The estate regeneration policies have been designed to ensure that the old council housing stock is replaced by mixed tenure housing. Projects like the Heygate Estate regeneration have been claimed to have enhanced neighbourhood environments, housing quality and infrastructure (Lees et al., 2016). But critics argue that demolition can diminish the stock of true affordable housing and cause the displacement of existing residents. A study of estate regeneration in London has revealed that many of those who had previously lived in the area were unable to move back in as the new homes were too expensive (Watt, 2021). These schemes have also been associated with gentrification and the displacement of existing communities. There are differing views on the social effects of estate renewal, as in the situation where estate regeneration is more about private development than social housing provision.

References

• Lees, L., Shin, H.B. and López-Morales, E. (2016). Planetary gentrification. John Wiley & Sons.
• Watt, P. (2021). Estate regeneration and its discontents: Public housing, place and inequality in London. Policy Press.
• Atkinson, R. and Helms, G. eds. (2007). Securing an urban renaissance: Crime, community, and British urban policy. Policy Press.

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