The ideas on which the book is based have been formulated over a number of years with colleagues in the housing research community. A particularly important stimulus has been the work of Jim Kemeny in applying concepts of social constructionism to the field of housing. My early attempts at devising an analytical framework for housing based on social constructionism were first rehearsed in a paper at the European Network for Housing Research conference in Cardiff in 1998. This was developed into an article which was published in the journal Housing, Theory and Society in 2002. The commentaries on this article were very helpful in refining the approach on which this book is based. Material in individual chapters in the book has been presented at Housing Studies Association and European Network for Housing Research conferences and I am very grateful for the discussions at these events which have contributed greatly to my thinking. I would particularly like to thank Bo Bengtsson and Chris Allen for very constructive criticisms of particular chapters. Bridget Franklin helped considerably in early studies of the social constructionist approach in our work together on housing management. I am also grateful for her useful comments on the draft typescript.

I have used the approach outlined here as a means of structuring a module in housing for Planning and Geography undergraduate students. Their reactions have helped in decisions about how to present material and what to include or leave out. My confidence in the usefulness of the book to students is based on the success of this module over the years in presenting material in an interesting and accessible format which is seen to be relevant to the lives and future careers of the students.

The author and publishers are grateful to the following for permission to reproduce copyright material: Taylor and Francis for material from Clapham, D. (2002) ‘Housing pathways: a post modern analytical framework’, Housing Theory and Society, vol 19, pp 57-68; Ashgate Publishing for material from Clapham, D. (2004) ‘Housing pathways: a social constructionist research framework’, in K. Jacobs, J. Kemeny and A. Manzi (eds) Social constructionism in housing research, Aldershot: Ashgate; and John Wiley & Sons for material from Clapham, D. (2003) ‘Pathways approaches to homelessness research’, Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, vol 13, pp 119-27.