This introduction to the special issue on 'market concepts, coordination mechanisms and new actors in social housing' makes the case for multi-disciplinary and multi-level studies of the impacts of market-oriented policies aimed at social housing. The authors suggest that privatisation, tenant...

Reforms to the funding of new social housing in England in 2004 enabled private sector firms to compete with existing non-profit providers for grant. These reforms are at an early stage, but already around 4 per cent of new social housing is being constructed through direct funding of private...

This article draws on studies of 23 Best Value pilots in the housing sector to assess the ways in which competition has been incorporated into Best Value strategies. While out-sourcing appeared to comprise a very small element of pilot activities, closer examination identified a range of...