Citizenship rights and housing tenure

This research analyses Australian understandings of citizenship in the context of different housing tenures. The thesis combines the theoretical work of Marshall and Mannheim to address variations and tensions in citizenship. Variations in the understanding and practice of citizenship among homeowners, homebuyers, private renters and social housing tenants are examined using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The research highlights the relationship between citizens in different housing tenures to several key aspects of modern citizenship: membership, participation and security in their local community. The opportunities for citizens to actively participate, achieve a sense of membership and feeling of security within their local community are examined. The thesis contrasts the different understandings and experience of financially independent homeowners and homebuyers with citizens in both social and private rental housing. The analysis identifies tensions and ideals around the notions of a 'good citizen' and civic virtue. The value of the Australian 'dream' of home ownership is also explored. The main conclusions are that private renters experience less security and membership than public tenants, homeowners or purchasers in terms of their housing rights and engagement with the local community. Homeownership is strongly equated with notions of security and reflects higher levels of formal civic participation in charitable organisations than people in other tenures, including homebuyers. Homebuyers are focused on work and professional related activities and sport rather than charitable or community work. The strong feelings of tenure-based security among public tenants do not translate into high levels of formal civic participation, rather the opposite, although it does foster informal cultural activities and identification with the local community in contrast to private renters. These findings suggest that more substantive research needs to be undertaken into the 'benefits' of private rental and home purchase schemes to demonstrate the effectiveness of current housing policy in 'deepening' the quality of community life