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Rent Benefits and Tenants' Attitudes. The Batley Rent Rebate and Allowance Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2009

Peter F. Taylor-Gooby
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Abstract

This article discusses a study of the factors affecting rent rebate and allowance take-up carried out by Batley Community Development Project. The scope and limitations of an action-research approach in monitoring the impact of publicity, and the importance of attitudinal explanations of the take-up of means-tested benefits are discussed.

The research shows that take-up is relatively low, especially in the case of private tenants, and little affected by experimental publicity. Take-up cannot be explained as a simple function of publicity initiatives. Complex attitudinal factors only disclosed in depth-interview affect the impact, relevance and credibility of campaigns. Such factors, and particularly stigma, are likely to limit the potential of publicity for raising the take-up of rent benefits.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Social Policy , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , January 1976 , pp. 33 - 48
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

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References

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