Michael Oxley

De Montfort University | DMU · Centre for Comparative Housing Research

This article analyses the changing role of the private rental sector in (Western) Europe. It shows that after decades of decline, the private rental sector is now again gaining ground in at least some European countries. This apparent revival of the private rental sector is often enhanced by government interventions, such as rent deregulation and t...

Housing policies in many countries have become more market orientated as the role of governments has shifted from the direct supply and funding of non-market housing towards the role of a regulator and facilitator. Central to this development is the notion that providers of social housing have to become more competitive. Arguably, these social hous...

The central proposition advanced in this paper is that differences in the structure of housing systems, and specifically the differences between dynamic and static housing systems, are crucial to an explanation of the varying impacts between countries of the international financial crisis. The proposition is illustrated with reference to Ireland, E...

The paper will argue that the meaning and definition of private renting varies from country to country, and this presents a series of challenges for comparative research. It will demonstrate a lack of equivalence between 'private rented housing sectors' in western Europe and show that this arises from variations in definitions, property rights, the...

This paper aims to make a contribution to the debate about the meaning of competition as applied to social housing and the usefulness of a competitive paradigm as a comparative analytical tool. Social housing providers have been asked to become more competitive and more market orientated in Europe. But what exactly do these terms mean and what are...

This paper will set out the concept of a 'gap' between the social rented and market rented housing sector. This will be examined with respect to one aspect of competition between the two sectors in England, France, the Netherlands and Germany: substitutability. The analysis will involve an examination of the extent to which tenants can choose betwe...

In an attempt to promote efficiency and consumer choice, many governments in Europe have in recent years required social housing organisations to be more market-orientated and competitive. Competition, however, is being discussed and implemented without any detailed examination of what is meant by the term 'competition' outside a conventional 'mark...

The once clear demarcation of funding and roles of the social and market rental sectors seems to have become blurred in a number of European countries. Social renting is no longer provided only by non-profit organisations. The extent to which a gap can be identified between the social and market rental sectors in six countries in north-west Europe...

The paper considers the proposal in England that a continuing requirement for residential developers to contribute directly to the supply of affordable housing in return for planning permission should operate alongside a new tax on land value increases due to planning permission. The paper asks whether it is right in principle for affordable housin...

"This article discusses the application of the concept of competition to social housing in Europe. A distinction is made between competition amongst social housing suppliers and between social housing organisations and commercial suppliers of housing. The competitiveness of social housing is examined using evidence mainly from England and the Nethe...

This paper reviews the proposal for a new tax on the 'windfall gains’ arising from the granting of planning permission for residential development in the UK. The theoretical foundations in the theory of economic rent are discussed and the practical problems of applying such a tax, in the form of a 'Planning-gain Supplement&CloseCurl...

It is argued that social housing in the UK currently faces affordability and investment problems. Rental payments are highly dependent on housing benefits and more investment, with higher rent levels and lower direct subsidy, requires more expenditure on housing benefits if affordability problems are to be avoided. The increasing role of private fi...

In this paper the meaning of the term 'housing subsidy' is reviewed and the theoretical and practical problems of measuring the value of housing subsidies and making comparisonsbetween countries is demonstrated.The definitions of both 'subsidy' and 'housing subsidy' are questioned. The paper shows that what is and is not a housing subsidy is often...

Land and Housing Policies In Europe and The USA. Graham Hallett (ed). London: Routledge, 1988. pp216. £27.50.Housing and Social Change in Europe and The USA. Michael Ball, Michael Harloe and Maartje Martens. London: Routledge, 1988. pp222. £30.00.Polarisation and Social Housing: The British and French Experience. Peter Willmott and Alan Murie. Lond...

The paper aims to make a contribution to the debate about the relationship between competition and social rental housing provision. Social housing providers are arguably in the process of becoming more competitive and more market orientated in Europe. But what exactly do these terms mean and what are the defining features of competitiveness? In thi...