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Any Choice for Vulnerable Households ? Lessons from Choice-Based Lettings

Supporters of choice-based lettings frequently emphasise the principles of customer empowerment, but does this extend to meaningful choice for vulnerable households? The paper focuses initially on the debate on ‘need’ versus ‘choice’ and applies this to vulnerable households. A brief outline is then provided on how choice-based lettings systems in Britain and The Netherlands have attempted to empower the customer and whether and how this has been extended to vulnerable households. The findings from a detailed evaluative case study of Harborough Home Search are then outlined. The key conclusions are that choice is constrained for vulnerable households by the nature of provision and support packages, and action on joined-up thinking between housing, health and social services is slow. Nevertheless, this paper highlights that there is choice – albeit constrained choice – and choice is possible for all households, including vulnerable households. Progress can be made especially where users and their representatives are involved in the development and running of choice-based lettings schemes.