Selective licensing and resident satisfaction in social housing: A UK case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the effects of selective licensing on an area of social depravation. The paper consciously focuses solely on the views and perspectives of the residents as opposed to that of the landlord or housing professional.; Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a series of structured qualitative interviews with a statistically significant percentage of residents in the given area.; Findings – The selective licence has had some limited but positive effects on the well-being of the residents. Standards of property management and perceptions of anti-social behaviour had also improved to a degree. It was clear, however, that many residents could not distinguish the selective licensing process from more generic local authority intervention. Many residents reported an increase in their “self-esteem” due to the interventions of the local authority, however labelled.; Originality/value – The paper provides original data on the attitudes and perspectives of residents in an area of selective licensing. This is an area of current interest that has yet to receive sustained attention. Whilst centred on legislation in England and Wales its findings and discussion are relevant in other jurisdictions facing similar issues.