The global financial crisis of 2007-08 was triggered by sub-prime mortgage mis-selling in the US and the global sale of these debts as new bonds.
Austerity programmes are designed to reduce the borrowing that governments undertook to stabilise failing banking systems but the UK's Coalition government is using 'austerity' as a cover to dismantle the welfare state. Housing is at the forefront of these changes. Mortgages and rental costs are rising as 'the market' dictates them, while people with low incomes now receive substantially less financial help from the welfare state.
In this much-needed text by an experienced author with a policy background, current housing finance issues (and their history) are linked with broader social policy and political themes. It covers the finance of building and refurbishment, managing and maintaining property for all the different tenures (owner occupation, council housing, housing association and private renting), and discusses whether current arrangements are sustainable. Written for housing, social policy and politics students and staff, it is also accessible to anyone concerned about housing in Britain today.
Table of Contents:
Part One: Overview;
Political choices and housing finance;
The global financial crisis and the UK government’s role;
Part Two: Tenure;
Local authority general housing services and building work;
Owner-occupation;
The changing fortunes of council housing;
Housing associations;
The private rented sector;
Part Three: Issues with housing costs;
‘Marginal’ owner occupation;
A variety of rents;
Paying for housing with help from housing benefits;
Part Four: Discussion;
Is our housing system sustainable?.
About the Author :
Dr Cathy Davis is a freelance writer and housing and social policy researcher. Her career has spanned academia and all aspects of housing practice. Most recently, she has been a housing academic at the University of Salford (2003-12). Previously she worked for the National Housing Federation in their Yorkshire and Humber office (1986-96) representing housing associations. She is a qualified housing manager and former CAB specialist housing advisor.
Review :
"This book is well-written, well-structred and easy to engage with as a result." Dr Stuart Cameron, The Univeristy of Bolton. "Finance for Housing... is a mine of useful information and argument that will be of interest to anyone wanting to know more about the housing system, and so is highly recommended" - Red Brick blog "A much needed up-to-date resource for housing students." Victoria Hiscocks, Cardiff Metropolitan University "a clear guide to understanding the continuing crisis in the UK housing sector and the Coalition's policies in particular...highly recommended" Dexter Whitfield, The Spokesman issue 123 "Frequently provocative and is likely to challenge many of its intended readership's views...an accessible and thought provoking account of finance for housing policies." People, Place and Policy "This timely book underlines why housing has moved from the periphery to the centre of social policy debates. I hope that it will be read by policy-makers and activists as well as students and academics." Ruth Lister, Emeritus Professor Loughborough University, and member of the House of Lords "The test of a civilised society is that everyone should have access to a decent home. In the post-war years a huge house building programme for local authorities was set up and this met a real need. Today we need a similar programme which would create jobs and help us to escape from the agony of austerity." Tony Benn, former Labour MP and Cabinet Minister "An informative book about housing policy in the UK." Journal of Housing and the Built Environment.
