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Grass-Roots Organisation, Mouthpiece and Social Organiser. Local
Organisation and Democracy in Housing
As voluntary organisations LTAs are also expected to function as small democratic units for local members and residents ('democratic community'). The study is based on the answers to four large questionnaires directed to a statistical sample of some 350 LTAs: one questionnaire to the whole board, one to the chairperson, one to a representative of the regional tenant union and one to a representative of the landlord. The results are related to theories on small scale democracy, organisational power, tenant participation and social capital. The average LTA works in a municipal multi-dwelling housing estate of between 100 and 200 dwellings, where about one half of the tenants are members of the tenant union. In the role as democratic community all LTAs have annual meetings for members, and almost 90 percent have also arranged meetings open for all tenants in the estate, including non-members. The attendance to meetings is comparatively low, though relatively higher in LTAs in small estates. There is almost no competition for seats on the board. The gender distribution among LTA board members is rather even with a slight female majority. Immigrants are poorly represented on the boards, even in areas with large shares of immigrant residents. In the role as grass-roots organisation LTAs and higher levels of the movement co-operate on remarkably good terms. The interaction is regular and seems to be carried out in mutual respect and trust. Several board members are active on higher levels as well, and also in trade unions, political parties and other types of associations. In the role as mouthpiece almost two thirds of the LTAs take part in rent negotiations and 70 percent have a formal agreement with the landlord on tenant participation. A considerable number also have some form of economic influence. The LTAs feel that their influence is strongest on the management of the outdoor environment and on local regulations and weakest on rents and on the acceptance of new tenants. In the role as social organiser LTAs take great responsibility for leisure activities and study groups in their estates. More than half of the LTAs have some collaboration with other organisations, though - considering the multi-cultural population of many rental estates - surprisingly few collaborate with immigrant organisations. The LTA boards consider all the three roles as grass-roots organisation, mouthpiece and social organiser to be important, but the role as the mouthpiece of the local tenants in relation to the landlord is seen as the most important of the three. Activity within the different roles seems to be mutually reinforcing; in particular democratic participation seems to have a positive correlation with success in the other roles. Most boards feel responsibility not only to local members but also to non-member residents of the estate. The results of the empirical study are related throughout to general theoretical perspectives, as well as to earlier Swedish, Danish and English studies on the subject. This makes it possible to link the empirical conclusions with theory and with observations from other similar contexts, and consequently to contribute to the general knowledge on housing democracy, local organisation and tenant participation. If you want to order a copy of the book please contact Carita Ytterberg by telephone 026-420 65 03 or by e-mail carita.ytterberg@ibf.uu.se. The cost is 195 SKr.
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