Housing Studies BA (Hons)

Modules

Methods of assessment for course overall: 91% coursework

• Housing in context
  This module provides an introduction to housing, how it interacts with a range of other services and professions. It introduces contemporary housing policy and examines issues of housing tenure. The module emphasises the link between housing and planning policies and the environment and sustainability. It examines the policy and operation of housing and welfare issues and how they are linked. The module includes a field trip which illustrates the class based lectures and demonstrates the links between this and other Level 4 modules.
• Explanations in housing histories
  This module deals with the evolution of housing and the role that housing plays in contemporary society, and in shaping our towns and cities. In particular, it considers how local housing histories can offer explanations for the social and physical development of an area. Through researching the housing history of your street or house, students can develop a better understanding of these changes. Additionally, by looking at a series of contemporary social issues, consideration is given to the significance that housing has in inequalities of various kinds that exist in society today.
• Society and welfare
  This module provides students with a broad introduction to the variety of social science perspectives on contemporary society, governance and welfare in the UK and how these impact upon the development of policy and practice. Students develop an understanding of the social and economic processes which are at the foundation of public policymaking in Housing and Planning.
• Funding social housing
  This module offers students an introduction to the policy framework of the UK housing finance system, including issues and problems that arise from this(such as affordability). WE also consider the funding mechanisms for social housing, regeneration and private house building, budget setting and personal finance issues such as housing benefit, poverty and problems with debt.
• Producing the built environment
  this module provides an introduction to the process of the development of residential housing, including the role of the developer and the speculative house builder as well as the various roles of local authorities (as enabler, planner and commissioner), housing associations and other key professionals. The role of town planning in the development process and the broader context within which housing development occurs are also considered.
• Law for housing professionals
  This module is an introduction to all aspects of housing law and the legal environment in which it operates. It will incorporate the introduction of how housing law is created through legislation and case law, provide introduction to homelessness law and landlord and tenant obligations in regard to tenancies and disrepair. Here we also explore possession proceedings and dealing with anti-social behaviour matters.

• Organisations
  This module focuses is on housing organisations and will therefore emphasise voluntary and not for profit organisations. It introduces a range of academic analysis of the nature of organisations and the role of individuals within them. It explores how they are operated and managed particularly when they are subject to rapid change. The exploration of organisational culture and the factors which drive change are examined.
• Housing management and maintenance
  In this module you will critically examine current housing management and maintenance issues. It seeks to enable students to understand how policies and performance targets are set out for housing management and maintenance in different organisational settings. Consideration is also given to the impact of such targets on organisational behaviour. In considering each of the housing management and maintenance tasks, students are encouraged to identify the relevant landlord and tenant laws in relation to the above. You will also learn the importance of defects associated with houses and the importance of conditions surveys and planned maintenance.
• Housing development
  This module provides you with an understanding of housing development strategies. It start s by considering the context for development and then looks at different housing strategies put forward by UK Governments over the last 20 years, focusing on the most recent ones. It also looks at their delivery. The module is divided in three parts: perspectives on housing policies; recent housing strategies; and housing delivery.
• Policy development and evaluation 1
  In this module taken together with Policy Development and Evaluation Part 2 (taught later in the same year) you will explore and understand the interaction between policy, research, strategy, implementation and evaluation of housing policy. The module emphases an appreciation of processes and people that form policy and provides the overview of the research process as applied to policy development.
• Policy development and evaluation 2
  This module continues the main themes explored in Policy Development and Evaluation Part 1 ensuring students understand the interaction between policy, research, strategy, implementation and evaluation.
• European housing and study visit (includes study visit to Amsterdam)
  This module explores the housing systems and regeneration programmes in mainland Europe. These provide a basis for comparison with contemporary housing, sustainability and urban regeneration issues in the United Kingdom. Field study skills are developed and used in a residential field-trip to The Netherlands.

• Managing the new housing
  This module examines the changing nature and role of social landlords, such as housing associations and Arms' Length Management Organisations (ALMO's). Students will obtain a detailed understanding of the legal regulation of social landlords, the nature of their strategic management, the underlying housing policies which are transforming the influence of such social landlords and the main features of their operations.
• Dissertation (double module)
  This is a double-weighted module. It is an intensive piece of student-centred study and learning. Students choose their own topic, which must be within their specialist field of interest, and engage in a substantial piece of research and writing. You will have a supervisor to guide you through the process of undertaking a dissertation.
• Housing economics
  This module provides the economic and financial background to housing finance as expressed at a national and organisational levels. It explores the essential underpinning framework within which housing organisations operate. This framework comprises the economic processes and the structure of the wider economy. Her we explores and analyse the fundamental economic models applied to housing markets, business planning (including development finance), and the process and impact of economic and financial policy intervention across all tenures.
• Neighbourhood management and renewal (includes three-day field trip to Manchester/Liverpool)
  This module examines the background, context and practice of neighbourhood management and urban renewal in the UK, exploring key themes, concepts and issues. Using a case study approach through field visits to current initiatives, students develop a critical analysis of current policy and practice.

• Advanced housing law
  This module equips students with advanced skills for dealing with housing issues and extends students' knowledge of housing law. It deals with a range of complex problems by analysing the complimentary areas of statutory approaches in relation to community care and housing law. The module also critically assesses the impact of the Human Rights legislation and the Localism Act on housing. There is an emphasis on the interpretation of legislation in practice.
• Housing in developing countries
  Part One of this module examines the fundamental concepts of housing, regeneration and local economic development in the context of developing-countries. It explores the forces affecting demand and supply, cost, location, conditions and tenure; and recent trends in the economics, policy and legal frameworks which affect them. Part Two examines how housing and other urban professionals seek to engage in this field and the methods that they use to achieve this. Examples are drawn mainly from across sub-Saharan Africa.

Part-time = four modules a year for four years and then a dissertation in Year 5.