Journal of Co-operative Studies 33(1), 15-38

Abstract

This paper seeks to assess the extent to which tenant management in Britain has utilised communitarian philosophy, through co-operative principles, to tackle housing and wider problems. The paper first discusses the development of tenant management in Britain, concentrating on the key policy differences that have emerged between Scotland and England. The paper then uses the example of one of the oldest tenant management co-operatives in Britain (Speirs) to assess the effectiveness of this approach and finally, discusses the future of the movement. The paper concludes that there has been a divergence in policy and legislation between Scotland and England that the Scottish regime is far less favourable to the promotion, development and support of tenant management.  The current Scottish context strongly favours the development of large-scale stock transfers. However, the funding for capital improvements, which would be released by such transfers, could provide a renewed impetus for local tenant management - if there is a will to achieve this.