ABSTRACT
The provision and management of social housing for those who are unable to access the housing market is essential to the maintenance of the fabric of society. Roughly 20 per cent of households in this country rely upon some form of subsidised housing provided by local authorities and housing associations, and many who would otherwise be homeless are housed in private sector accommodation procured by state and voluntary agencies. Yet others rely on housing benefits provided through tax receipts to help them afford the homes they rent. The social housing industry is vast and still growing, with an annual growth in the number of housing associations and management bodies, and is changing to adapt to new political and economic forces. There are very few countries in the world where some form of subsidised housing does not exist, and the total number of social homes is likely to grow worldwide, as are the challenges of the sector.
