1. Whats social about social housing? (and whats the law got to do with it anyway?) An Inaugural Lecture delivered by Professor David Cowan

2. 2 Structure of Lecture Part I: What is social housing? Part II: How does the social function in social housing?

3. 3 What is social housing? A scandal in Westminster: –homes for votes or ownership v housing need The purpose: Meeting housing need

4. 4 Studies of Homelessness Law Housing need as moral concern: –[homelessness law] has always required us to oppress the homeless by making moral judgments, not about their housing need, but about why the homeless become homeless in the first place. From housing need to tenantability orresponsibility Homelessness - housing need - risk management

5. 5 Where is [the] law? Law provides a shroud of legitimacy –Denial and deterrence The enabling rule of law Laws potency in obscurity –if transparency provides a model of good governance, obscurity provides a model for efficient government

6. 6 Part II: Introduction From … –What is social housing? To … –What is the social in social housing?

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10. 10 Labelling social housing Contesting the label Public – Private –Re-conceptualisation of housing need Private sector housing as social housing

11. 11 Developing Municipal Housing Housing and the welfare state The growth of housing need –Housing need as industry Importing ethics

12. 12 Three Illustrations I: Choice-Based Lettings From allocation to lettings From bureaucracy to market Re-imagining the government of social housing

13. 13 Three Illustrations II: Possession Proceedings Rise in possession proceedings District Judges visions of the social & the moral occupier –one of my guiding principles, is I look to see to what extent the tenant has helped him or herself or is able to help him or herself and, if they are able to help themselves and do absolutely nothing to help themselves then I dont see why the court should help them frankly.

14. 14 Three Illustrations III: Anti-Social Behaviour Anti-social behaviour as industry –Growth in law –Anti-social/social –Separation Obscurity as a tool of government Looking/searching for the anti-social –Social housing as governable territory

15. 15 Where is [the] law? (Part II) From hard law to softest law The silent presence The law is all over

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