Can’t leave, won’t leave. A study of households’ responses to housing stress in a pressured area

Lloyd, Michael (2015) Can’t leave, won’t leave. A study of households’ responses to housing stress in a pressured area. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis demonstrates that constraints on displacement as a consequence of gentrification can be complex. It suggests that some of the barriers to leaving an area that households face have been under-emphasised in previous research. It analyses the behaviour of households dealing with housing stress in a Scottish local authority area, East Lothian. This is a ‘pressured area,’ as defined by the Scottish government, where the ‘Right to Buy’ council houses has been suspended in most parts because of lack of affordable housing.
The thesis uses qualitative methods to examine in depth how households respond to housing problems when their options for solving them are restricted. It investigates first, the kinds of problems that they face. These include unsustainable housing costs, overcrowding, antisocial behaviour and poorly maintained or unsuitable houses. Their attempts to improve their housing are then shown. The households are asked why they think they have been unable, so far, to solve their accommodation problems. They describe the housing market in East Lothian and they explain how they think it has impacted on their housing aspirations and choices.
Gentrification theory predicts that, usually, pressured households will move to lower housing cost areas to meet their housing needs. In this study, the majority of the participants were resisting displacement. Their reasons for resistance are analysed and it is proposed that the role of ‘place attachment’ in holding back displacement has been under- emphasised in previous research. It is suggested moreover that households may be reluctant to leave because they believe that the government and local authorities have a duty to provide affordable housing in their own area, and expect them to do so.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Gentrification, affordable housing, East Lothian, housing stress, place attachment, pressured area
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General); H Social Sciences > HM Sociology; H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform; H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races; H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Supervisor's Name: Moira, Professor Munro
• Date of Award: 2015
• Depositing User: Mr Michael Lloyd
• Unique ID: glathesis:2015-6084
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 04 Mar 2015 08:51
• Last Modified: 11 Mar 2015 11:43
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/6084