The ‘Responsible’ Tenant and the Problem of Apathy

Citation

McKee K (2009) The ‘Responsible’ Tenant and the Problem of Apathy. Social Policy and Society, 8 (01), p. 25. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1474746408004557

Abstract
In the last decade, the UK New Labour government has emphasised tenant participation in housing policy. Consequently, those individuals who decide to opt out of participation processes have been problematised as ‘apathetic’, and identified as needing to be ‘empowered’ through professional interventions. Drawing on research about community ownership in Glasgow, this paper argues that tenants' reasons for not getting involved are more than simply lack of interest. Tenants articulated an instrumental approach to participation, and rejected the conflation of tenant participation with tenant management. Practical barriers also obstructed their latent motivation.

Notes
I don't know when it was accepted. Already available open access in the repository of my previous employer (St Andrews)

Journal
Social Policy and Society: Volume 8, Issue 01