1st Edition

Housing, Race and Law The British Experience

By Martin MacEwen Copyright 1991

    Equality of opportunity in housing is a key issue in social justice in Britain today. To the extent that it patterns an individual's educational, social and economic development, housing constitutes a crucial battleground in the fight against racial discrimination.

    Housing, Race and Law is the first publication to examine the law in relation to issues of housing and race in both the private and public sector. It places these issues in the broader context of the development of anti-discrimination legislation, outlines the current legislation and examines its impact in relation to owner occupation, public housing, housing association tenancies and private lets. Throughout, the book emphasizes the practical impact of the various legislative provisions, and discusses the responses of the principle institutions from government departments and relevant professions to the Commission for Racial Equality and the Community Relations Councils (or Racial Equality Councils). It argues a case for a new approach to appraisal, review and enforcement.

    By collating material from a wide variety of sources, the author provides an original assessment of the Race Relations Act of 1976 and its impact on housing which, in its provision of cogent material and arguments for reforms, is designed to be of value to practitioners, academics and those concerned with racial discrimination.

    List of Tables Preface Introduction Part I: The Framework Chapter One: Theoretical Perspectives 1. Race and Racism 2. Ethnicity and Integration 3. Inequality in Housing 4. Causes of Inequality 5. Gender and Race 6. Ideology and Law 7. Ideology and Language 8. Institutional Racism 9. A Structural Approach Chapter Two: Facts and Figures 1.Pattern of Settlement 2. Reason of Immigration 3. Areas of Relative Concentration 4. Demographic Characteristics 5. Movement, Tenure and Quality 6.Conclusion Chapter Three: Discrimination and the Law 1. Issues and Approaches 2. Reasons for Immigration 3. Why Legislation 4. Disadvantages and Discrimination in Housing 5. Housing Policy and Law Chapter Four: Acts I and II - The Race Relations Act 1965 and 1968 1. Race Relations Act 1965: An Outline 2. Race Relations Act 1965: Proposals for Change 3. Race Relations Act 1968: An Outline 4. Race Relations Act 1968: An Assessment 5. Race Relations Act 1968: Proposals for Change Chapter Five: Act III - The Race Relations Act 1976 1. Introduction 2. The Act in Summary 3. Promises and Misgivings Part II: - The Law in Practice Chapter Six: Urban Planning 1. Planning and the Housing Market 2. Supply of Land for Housing 3. The Development Plan and Race 4. Development Control and Race 5.Relevant Planning Considerations 6. Planning, Race and the Doctor's Prescription 7. The Urban Programme 8. Planning Law and Distributive Justice 9. Disrepair and Improvement 10. Conclusion Chapter Seven: Homelessness 1. Introduction 2. Defining Homlessness 3. The Homelessness Crisis and Statutory Discretion 4. Accommodation 5. Priority Need 6. Intentionality 7. Child Care 8. Dependancy on Public Funds and Family Unity 9. The Immigration Act 1988 10. Refugees 11. L.A. Allocation Policies 12. The Judicial Approach 13. Investigations by the CRC 14. Conclusion Chapter Eight: Public Housing: Admission and Allocation 1. Introduction 2. General Legal Framework 3. Race Legislation and Allocations 4. Allocation Policy: The L.A. Experience 5. Conclusions

    Biography

    Martin MacEwen

    `The book provides for academics and practitioners a comprehensive appraisal of the existence and effects of discimination in the broad field of housing ... It gives detailed background on each area dealt with and is presented in a very readable style ... it is a book for all of us.' - Planning Practice and Research

    `...he has tried to tie together the various issues affecting race, a task in which he succeeds remarkably well... Martin MacEwen's book...is comprehensive and thought-provoking. It is wide in its coverage, with adequate attention being given to the Scottish, as well as to the English context and with useful references to North American experience...it deserves a place in every college and university library.' - Critical Social Policy

    `Both the student and the scholar will find the book of considerable value.' - Housing Studies