13 May 2008 – Social Housing and Worklessness: Key Policy Messages Report

New research published today by the Department for Work and Pensions explores possible explanations for the relatively high levels of worklessness among tenants in social housing. A separate, forthcoming, report will present the detailed research findings.

The research design focused on two key activities: further analysis of existing administrative and survey data and relevant literature and in-depth qualitative interviews with 107 social tenants in two neighbourhoods (a concentrated area of social housing and 'pepper-potted' area of social housing) in each of four case study local authority districts (Derby, Islington, Peterborough and Sheffield). In addition, 30 in-depth qualitative interviews were also conducted with private rented tenants.

The purpose of this report is to headline the key policy messages to emerge from the research. To this end, discussion is organised around six key themes identified by DWP, CLG and Cabinet Office as potential areas for effective intervention: Social housing as a work incentive, geography, mobility, tax and benefits, further barriers to work facing social tenants and multiple disadvantage and integrating services.
The main findings include:

• The vast majority of respondents reported that living in the social rented did not present a barrier or disincentive to work.  There was no evidence that levels of labour market attachment shifted when respondents moved between tenures
• There is no consistent evidence of cultures of worklessness in deprived areas.
• Few respondents reported that the difficulty of moving house within the sector acted as a barrier to securing work. However, some respondents did report that their views on moving house might shift if they had a firm offer of a well-paid and secure job.
• The complexities of the benefit system were found to act as a disincentive to entering work for some respondents
• The social tenants interviewed tended to face multiple disadvantages that were often severe in nature and sometimes hidden from view.
• The social tenants interviewed faced multiple disadvantages that were sometimes hidden or denied. The lives of many of these individuals were found to have been made more difficult by the fragmented way in which public services operate.

Notes for Editors

1. The research is based on findings from a literature review and secondary data as well as qualitative interviews with social tenants with a recent or ongoing experience of worklessness. 107 interviews were conducted with tenants living in concentrated and pepper-potted areas of social housing in four local authority districts (Derby, Islington, Peterborough and Sheffield). Interviews were also completed with 30 people with a recent or ongoing experience of worklessness living in the private rented sector. All respondents were living in neighbourhoods located close to major centres of employment.
2. Research Report no. 482, ‘Social housing and worklessness: key policy messages’ is published on 13 May 2008. The report is available on the website and hard copies can be obtained from CDS.

DWP Press office: 020 32675144
Out of hours: 07659 108883