ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the experiences of Pakistani households within the social rented sector. Changing household size and household patterns clearly had an important impact on the frequency of moves and on Pakistani housing strategy. One of the greatest problems faced by Pakistani people is racial harassment and this has been shown to be particularly prevalent on local authority housing estates. Pakistani families found themselves particularly constrained in relation to council housing and there seemed to be a general consensus that the allocation system did not pay sufficient attention to their needs. Pakistani families seemed willing to move from the public to the private rented sector, a step which is probably less common with white families. There is a frequent lack of understanding of the allocation system and many families have had to have it explained to them - not always by housing staff.