ABSTRACT
The central question of the case-study presented in this chapter was: ‘why do social landlords evict their tenants?’ The study explores the use of discretion in eviction process, asking professionals about their experiences and practice in this area. It also explores professional perspectives on alternatives to eviction. The 15 housing association professionals were from ten housing associations of varying sizes, ranging from few hundred units of accommodation to tens of thousands in the large cities. Identities of research participants and their employers have been anonymised. The question of discretion was put to the interviewees. This case study provides an invaluable insight into the personal views and opinions of housing professionals involved in evictions. The sample includes chief housing officers and housing association directors as well as senior managers, rent arrears managers and housing officers working at street-level.
