Housing Management, Consumers and Citizens

Tenant participation has grown substantially over the last decade, following government legislation, advice from professional bodies and development agencies, and promotion by all major political parties. On few housing issues is there such consensus. Yet, in practice, it is obvious that participation can mean very different things in different contexts. Housing Management, Consumers and Citizens explains why this is the case, and examines the growth of participation in the context of changes in the role of local authorities and their relationship with their electorates. The book argues that the rise in arrangements for tenant participation masks considerable differences in the role played by tenants in different areas. These differences raise questions about the nature of power in the tenant-landlord relationship and more generally in the relationship between local government, citizens and consumers.