NO CHOICE: REFORMING SOCIAL HOUSING IN ENGLAND

Abstract

This paper considers the current and future prospects for social housing. It looks at the key issues of choice and affordability that dominate housing policy, how this links social housing to the dominant tenure of owner‐occupation and how government has sought to control social housing allowing for a managed decline of the sector. The final part of the paper proposes some reforms which will introduce real choice into rented housing and empower low‐income households. This, however, will necessitate the end of social housing as a distinct tenure.