Renting Homes: Law and Policy

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the basic principles of the law of landlord and tenant;
• the scope of the statutory protection of tenants in residential properties;
• an introduction to the uses and functions of housing law in society in the light of broader housing policy issues.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• formulate an effectively reasoned and structured argument;
• communicate and present written arguments supported by appropriate evidence;
• display objectivity and balance in written work.
• analyse, interpret and evaluate complex material;

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• develop your technical skills in discovering, interpreting and applying the main principles of housing law, derived from both statute and case law;
• develop a critical awareness of, and a critical appreciation of, the uses and functions of Housing Law in the context of housing policy issues.

Private Rented Sector

A The history of state control of privately rented housing

B Tenancies fully protected under the Rent Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1988

Public Rented Sector

C Housing policy and the history of council housing

D The legal framework of the Housing Act 1985, Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Act 2002

E Succession in the private and public sectors

F Homelessness

G Housing and Human Rights

The teaching programme comprises 10, 2 hour, weekly seminars and 4, 1 hour fortnightly tutorials.

Teaching methods include:

• Seminars and tutorials for which preparation is required.

Learning activities include:

• Directed reading and independent research assisted by reading lists
• Accessing resources in the form of legislation, journals and case materials
• Reviewing and evaluating complex material
• Formulating and presenting in oral and written form reasoned and structured arguments

Preparation for, and participation at, seminars and tutorials will develop:

• Knowledge of the substantive principles and rules of housing law
• Appreciation of constructive criticism of the law and the policy that underpins it
• Ability to manage and access diverse range of sources of law, especially statutory material and case law
• Ability to critically evaluate those sources and participate constructively in oral discussions concerning them
• Ability to structure and express thoughts in logically coherent way

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Exam question

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: You will receive written feedback on a standard School form. You will also be offered the opportunity for one-to-one oral feedback.
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.