Influence of Changes to Social Housing in 1980

Social Policy

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
1. Influence of changes to social housing in year 1980...............................................................1
2. Key challenges facing by NHS while providing free health services.....................................2
3. Impact of austerity on current UK health and social policy....................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Social policy generally formulated by government and political parties for the welfare of state
and study of social determinants exist in society. This includes the legislations, guidelines,
principles and activities that governs the living conditions of human in direction of their welfare
and quality life in society (Daly, 2019).
The aspects cover in report includes changes in social housing in year 1985, challenges
facing by NHS while providing free health care at the point of need and impact of austerity on
current UK health and social policy.
MAIN BODY
1. Influence of changes to social housing in year 1980
The main reason of changes in housing sector within the time period of 1980 was the
government of Margaret Thatcher. This government combined the two aspects in the
development of housing policy i.e. economic neo-liberalism and social conservatism. These
changes have had long term impact that somewhere sowed the seeds of 2008 financial crises.
The changes were seen as extending home ownership and transferring of social housing
from the hands of local authorities to other landlords. Also, seen that housing associations had
the aim of increasing market through reducing the influence of local authorities that fulfils the
criterion of Thatcher’s neo-liberalism aspect. In promotion of the aspect of social conservatism,
Thatcher focused over providence of subsidies for increasing home ownership. This was created
the tension with chancellors on the point that it distorted the housing market in future.
There were many changes seen in the 1980 Housing Act, that extended right to buy council
homes in respect to tenants with the aid of generous discounts. Also, to sell state assets,
Thatcher’s government used mortgage interest tax relief as source to subsidise home ownership.
It was seen in between the year 1979 to 1990 that the amount of subsidy rose from £2.5bn to
more than £8bn along with number of recipients by 66% i.e. 9.7 million at the end of year 1990.
This resultant into increase in housing price that was doubled over the decade and provided the
foundation in respect to the unsustainable levels of home ownership that further contributes
towards financial crash in year 2008 (Social housing changes in year 1980, 2020).
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