The Question of Renting in the UK - Research Proposal Example

This research study will focus on exploring the opportunities and challenges faced in the area of choice based lettings in the UK. Government’s initiative to actually allow more choice to the customers of social housing has resulted into the choice based lettings (Taylor & Neill 2009). However, there are still some challenges, as well as opportunities, which are related with the choice based lettings. Research has suggested that there has been more emphasis on introducing market based trends in social housing. Further, the role of the occupant or the potential tenant has also been discussed. This research study will be qualitative in nature to explore opportunities and challenges in choice based lettings. Aims Over the period of time, government has introduced new regulations for allowing more choice for those who are using social housing. There has been continuous effort in terms of fulfilling the basic purpose of social housing needs, i.e. to provide housing and at the same time provide more choice for choosing the accommodation. The allocation issue, therefore, presents opportunities, as well as challenges, in terms of choice based lettings (Gibb & Trebeck, 2009). This paper will focus on exploring how this can be achieved and what steps and policy changes can be implemented to improved choice based letting in the UK. Objectives My objectives are to: 1. Identify opportunities and challenges in the area of choice based lettings. 2. Evaluate the role of those who use social housing and what criteria they may use in making a selection in choice based letting. 3. Describe the role of government in this regard and how it has expanded the legislative and administrative framework. 4. Illustrate as to how government can actually take more active role in choice based letting. Government historically played an active role and this research will further explore as to how government has been historically performing in this area and how its overall response and role can be improved. Introduction to Subject Area Choice based letting is a government initiative to give more choice to the families using social housing. However, over the period of time, the growing demand for the choice based social housing and the supply of such housing of choice has put a stress on government. The ever increasing aspirations of the tenants and the limited supply, therefore, are creating strong challenges as well as new opportunities (Vallely, 2000). This research will be important as it will focus upon what challenges are being faced in the domain of social housing and how these challenges can be converted into opportunities. More importantly, this research will offer a strategic insight into fair allocation of social housing based upon choice based letting. Example of Literature Over the period of time, government has desired to increase the choice available to the customers of social housing. This has, therefore, materialized into the development of a legal framework which improved this phenomenon (Westerby 2006). Historically, social housing in the UK has been administrated through a bureaucratic mechanism; however, there was also a shift towards making social housing more market oriented in nature (Gruis & Nieboer, 2004). One of the key differences between the choice based letting and the officer led letting is that the potential resident has to take an active part in making the selection of the housing units. This requires more active coordination between the authority and the individuals and may result into lack of communication, as well as other issues (Sommerville, Craig & Charles, 2011). It has also been suggested that the lack of trust and inability of the partners involved in the process of providing social housing and choice based letting is also contributing towards creating more challenges. These challenges mostly emerge due to lack of effective strategic partnering between different partners of the government actually delivering social housing and choice based lettings (Jones & Kaluarachchi, 2007). Involvement of local authorities in the choice based lettings also has an impact on the residents, especially in terms of improving the self-esteem (Rosenberg, 2011). Hypothesis The overall focus of this research is to explore the following hypothesis, as well as answer the questions mentioned below: 1. Social housing initiative has been able to achieve its overall objective. 2. What is the role of authority in helping potential residents to find housing of their choice? 3. Are there any communication issues involved between tenants and the authorities? 4. What criteria are used by tenants to make a choice of a particular housing unit? Methodology Methodology is the systematic use of statistical methods and tools to further explore the research questions which a researcher undertakes to explore. It also signifies as to what is actually achievable by using valid statistical methods and what will be the overall impact of the same on the results of the research. Adapting a proper research methodology is important in order to achieve the overall objectives of the research. Secondary research involves reviewing and examination of research and studies which have already been done by others. It provides a readymade access to the different themes and research topics which have already been researched and discussed by earlier researchers. In order to perform this research, secondary research will be used by reviewing and searching existing literature on the topic. More specifically, researcher will be critically examining and reviewing various research reports published by the related government departments on the overall progress of social housing and the progress made in terms of choice based lettings. As such, survey methodology will be adapted to critically review and explore the existing literature on the subject matter. Survey methodology will allow researcher to actually get access to the wider level of resources to perform the study at relatively broader level. Limitations It is critical to understand that due to limited nature of the resources available to the researcher and the overall nature of the study, it is assumed that some limitations will be faced during the overall course of performing this research study. Researcher, however, expects that assistance from supervisor and tutor will actually help contain the limitations which may be experienced during the overall course of the research. References Gibb, K & Trebeck, K 2009, "Different roads? Evidence about the changing provision of English social housing", International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 2(4), p.373 – 391. Gruis, V & Nieboer, N 2004, "Market orientation in social housing management", Property Management, 22(3), p.186 – 188. Jones, K & Kaluarachchi, Y 2007, "Operational factors affecting strategic partnering in UK social housing", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 14 (4), p.334 – 345. Rosenberg, J 2011, "Social housing, community empowerment and well-being: part one – empowerment practice in social housing", Housing, Care and Support, 14(4), p.113 – 122. Sommerville, J, Craig, N & Charles, A 2011, "No-fines concrete in the UK social housing stock: 50 years on", Structural Survey, 29(4), p.294 – 302. Taylor, B & Neill, A 2009, "Sheltered housing and care for older people", Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 10(4), p.18 – 28. Vallely, S 2000, "Directing research: Research on housing in the lives of older people", Housing, Care and Support, 3(3), p.30 – 32. Westerby, R 2006, "Reducing barriers for refugees accessing choice-based lettings schemes", Housing, Care and Support, 9(1), p.17 – 20. Read More