Housing Law
History of Social /Private Housing in Scotland, Stock Transfer and approach to Private Landlords
Legal Institutions related to Housing, Regulation of Scottish Housing - Owner Occupier/Private Landlord/Social Landlord, Property Factors
Tenants' Rights: Allocation of Housing, Types of Tenancies, Scottish Secure and Assured Tenancies, Rents, Security of Tenure, Repair, Deposits, New Models of Tenancies, Homelessness Law
Welfare Law
History and Policy of creation of Welfare State
Legal Institutions related to Welfare: Government Depts, Tribunals and Courts
The Universal Credit: Creation and underpinning Policy. Means Test: Law and underpinning policy.
Transitional Benefits: JobSeekers Allowance, Social Fund, Tax Credits and Housing Benefit. The Bedroom Tax changes..
The treatment of Sick and Disabled within Welfare Law,. Scottish Social Security System - the Future Model?
On successful completion of this module, the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a comprehension of the legal principles and policies underpinning Housing Law
2. Explain, apply and analyse the law surrounding social housing and its tenants' rights
3. Explain, apply and analyse the law surrounding private rented housing and its tenants
4. Explain, apply and analyse the law surrounding homelessness in Scotland
5. Explain all the most recent legal developments that overlap all areas of housing
6 Demonstrate a comprehension of the legal principles and policies underpinning Welfare Law
7. Explain and analyse the legal structures of specific benefits within the Welfare System
8 Explain and analyse the introduction of the Universal Credit
9. Explain and analyse the treatment of the sick and disabled by the benefit system
10. Apply this understanding to live situations
11. Identify and retrieve up to date legal information using paper and electronic repositories; use primary and secondary legal sources which are relevant to the topic under study and current at the point of assessment; present knowledge and information using sources to support arguments and conclusions; provide recognised methods of citation and reference.
12. Identify accurately and formulate clearly the legal issues to be researched; undertake independent research (both paper-based and electronic) in areas of law which have not been previously studied, using paper and electronic repositories to research new topics without reference to a reading list.
13. PRME Learning Outcome: demonstrate an ability to explore ethical and socially responsible responses to issues arising within the context of the Housing and Welfare law.
https://gcu.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/leganto/public/44GLCU_INST/lists/9105921030003836?auth=SAML
By the end of this module students will have gained competence in the following key areas:
Analysis, Synthesis, Critical Judgement and Evaluation
The ability to identify issues, assimilate, evaluate and analyse information to construct written or oral solutions to a problem by bringing together and integrating relevant information, and selecting key material, from a variety of different sources. The ability to present arguments for and against propositions, acknowledging ranking of sources and relative impact in context. Such skills are developed within this module through the following activities:
Solving well defined ( typically hypothetical)problems through essay, seminars and group work.
Managing, analysing and rating a large volume of legal sources in essay, exam and seminar work
Preparing a detailed assessed presentation involving a variety of legal sources
Application of the law and problem-solving in a legal context.
Personal Management, Independence and Ability to Learn
The ability to organise and prioritise effectively the expenditure of time and effort in the performance of all aspects of student work. The ability to learn effectively and be aware of their own learning strategies to manage their own learning development and to reflect upon their learning, seeking and making use of feedback. Such skills are developed within this module through the following activities:
Meeting deadlines for assessment: essay and group presentation
Preparing presentation to set time period
Preparing analyses of problem questions for weekly seminars
Access materials via the GCU Learn site
Require students to identify and access primary and secondary source materials.
Communication and Literacy
The ability to communicate information, ideas, advice and choices in an effective and succinct manner and in plain English without losing focus on key issues. The ability to listen and question effectively, to give and receive feedback and to make presentations addressing an allocated topic within the prescribed time frame. The ability to communicate both orally and in writing (and, where appropriate, by the use of electronic means) using the English language accurately by creating work which is comprehensible to the intended audience. The ability to create documents which are analytical, descriptive and inquisitive using appropriate terminology and recognised methods of citation and reference. Such skills are developed within this module through the following activities:
Creating work in a permanent format which is understandable by the intended audience
Create an essay which is analytical, descriptive and inquisitive.
Using appropriate legal terminology in all work - answer to seminar questions, exam and presentations
Giving face-to-face presentations with seminar leaders which addresses the allocated question within the prescribed time frame.
Listening and questioning effectively.
Giving and receiving feedback and responding effectively to others within seminar group and in response to presentation
Ensuring that all communications (either face-to-face or in permanent form) are succinct without losing focus on key issues or information.
Communicating in plain English, with legal terminology only as needed.
Contributing effectively to group work in class and assessment
Using recognised methods of citation and reference which will be used in coursework
Preparing for exam questions.
Preparing for seminars
Engaging in group work in seminars and for assessed presentation
Numeracy, Information, Technology and Teamwork
Where relevant and as the basis for an argument, the ability to present and evaluate information provided in numerical or statistical form. The ability to produce and present in an appropriate form a word-processed essay or other appropriate format. The ability to conduct efficient searches of websites to locate relevant information and exchange documents by E-mail. The ability to work productively and cooperatively in different kinds of groups to establish working relations with others, defining, sharing and delegating responsibilities within the group. Such skills are developed within this module through the following activities:
Word processed essays
Presentation using electronic audio-visual materials
Use of Internet - general and specific - to research legal materials for seminar, essay and exam preparation
Seminar tasks requiring retrieval of information using electronic legal databases eg Westlaw and Governmental websites
Communication with module team via e-mail.
Participation in seminar discussions
Groupwork for assessed presentation
