What do Low-Income Private Renters want to see Change in Scotland’s Private Rented Sector

Description

As part of DLUHC National Science Week 2024 we are holding the third seminar in the 2024 DLUHC Science Seminar series. Our speakers, Dr Kim McKee and Dr Tom Simcock will discuss their Scottish Government and Joseph Rowntree Foundation co-funded research on the experiences of lower-income private renters and their priorities for change. Their mixed-methods research used an evidence review, online survey, qualitative interviews, focus groups and co-production events. They identified that the five key priority areas for reform were: affordability; property conditions and repairs; professionalism; improving access to the sector; and improved tenants’ rights and information. Their seminar will include the benefits of the scientific approaches utilised and how they ensured the validity of their findings.


Dr Kim McKee is a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy (Housing) at the University of Stirling. She has researched and written extensively about the private rented sector in the UK, with a particular focus on the lived experience of renters. Kim is Director of the Postgraduate Housing Studies programme at Stirling, and was previously an editor of the journal Housing Studies, and the former Director of the St Andrews’ Centre for Housing Research.


Dr Tom Simcock is a Research Fellow and Research Manager of the Healthy Housing Initiative at the University of Huddersfield. Tom’s research interests include health and housing, the private rented sector, and the UK Fire and Rescue Service. Tom’s most recent research has focussed on the experiences of low-income renters in Scotland, the financial costs and benefits of renting to pet-owners, and cultural change in the UK Fire and Rescue Services. Tom is a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), a certified member of the Market Research Society (CMRS), and, he is the Secretary and an elected board member of the Housing Studies Association. Tom is regularly called upon by policymakers for his expertise; his research has been cited in parliamentary debates, informed Government policymaking, and Tom has given evidence to the Welsh Parliament.

Period	14 Mar 2024
Held at	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, United Kingdom
Degree of Recognition	National