Professor Kim McKee

Professor of Housing & Social Policy

Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology Rm 3T18, R G Bomont Building, University of Stirling

Professor Kim McKee

Contact details

About me

I am a Professor of Housing & Social Policy within the Division of Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology. My first degree was in Sociology & Social Policy (Glasgow), and then I specialised in housing & urban studies through further postgraduate qualifications and academic appointments.

My expertise is in housing inequalities, private rented sector precarity and housing/place-based stigma. My research explores the emotional dimensions of housing systems and their relations of power, with a strong focus on lived experience. It seeks to inform policy & professional practice, but is also grounded in critical theory.

I am a member of the Housing Education in Scotland Steering Group and an Associate Member of the Centre for the Sciences of Place & Memory at the University of Stirling. I've previously held leadership roles within housing education and research, including journals, learned societies and external advisory groups. I'm currently Faculty PGR Director for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (FAHSS) and a member of the Faculty Research Committee.

I am a qualitative researcher and my expertise includes:

  • social-spatial inequalities in a housing context
  • precarity in the private rented sector
  • the emotions of housing & home
  • housing/place based stigma
  • history of Scotland's community-based housing associations
  • reflective thinking/practice in housing

My research has been supported by a wide range of funders. I've led/contributed to 20+ projects with a total value exceeding £9 million, this includes mentoring postdoctoral fellows. Current projects are shown on the research tab.

Divisional / Faculty Contribution

Advisor of Studies, Housing Studies Programme (2019-)

Event / Presentation

Interviewed on BBC Good Morning Scotland (May 2025) - history of the housing emergency

Invited Speaker at SFHA Building Safety and Maintenance Forum, 16 April 2026

Invited speaker, 50th Anniversary of Scotland's Community-Based Housing Associations event, 29 April 2025
Presentation on the role of women in the birth of Scotland’s community-based housing associations.

Invited webinar for Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government 12 March 2025
Power of qualitative methods in supporting housing and healthy ageing

Keynote, Scottish Housing Day - Everybody Needs Good Neighbours (September 2025)

Other Academic Activities

Opinion Piece: Scotland’s commitment to housing education & professionalism
https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/…-professionalism

Opinion Piece: The problem with the ‘build baby build’ mantra: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/opinion-the-problem-with-the-build-baby-build-mantra

Other Project

Convenor: Women, Housing & Place: a research symposium September 2025, funded by the Centre for the Sciences of Place & Memory and the Intersectional Stigma of Place-based ageing project (co-organised with A Pearce, J Preece & M Ross).

University Contribution

Deans' Representative to Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS)
https://www.sgsss.ac.uk/

Director of Postgraduate Research, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS) (2026-)

Research projects (6)

Intersectional Stigma of Place-based Ageing
PI: Professor Vikki McCall
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
–

Housing Studies Charitable Trust Early Career Fellowship
PI: Dr Anna Pearce
Funded by: Housing Studies Charitable Trust
–

UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE)
PI: Professor Kim McKee
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
–

What do lower income tenants in Scotland’s private rented sector want to see from a new Rented Sector Strategy?
PI: Professor Kim McKee
Funded by: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
–

Choice, Constraint and Conditional Citizenship: analysing migrant homelessness within 'crimmigration' systems
PI: Dr Regina Serpa
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
–

Making a House a ‘Home’ in the Private Rented Sector: Good Practice Guidance for Landlords
PI: Professor Kim McKee
Funded by: Safe Deposit Scotland Charitable Trust (SDS)
–

Outputs (110)

Showing 100 of 110 — See all 110 outputs

Article

Understanding the intersectional stigma of ageing, disability, and place: a systematic literature mapping review

McKee K, McCall V, Theakstone D, Wilson K, Reid L, Gilroy R, Manley D, Pearce A, Davison L, Lawrence J & Pemble A (2024) Understanding the intersectional stigma of ageing, disability, and place: a systematic literature mapping review. Housing Studies. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02673037.2024.2421844; https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2024.2421844

Website Content

Gender and Precarity

McKee K (2023) Gender and Precarity. [Blog] 13.01.2023. https://housingevidence.ac.uk/gender-and-precarity/

Project Report

What do lower income tenants in Scotland’s private rented sector want to see from a new Rented Sector? Summary Report

Simcock T, McKee K, Marsh A, Harris J, Moore T, Soaita A & James G (2022) What do lower income tenants in Scotland’s private rented sector want to see from a new Rented Sector? Summary Report. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Glasgow. https://housingevidence.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Low_income_renters_priorities_for_change_scotland_synthesis_report_sept_2022.pdf

Project Report

What do lower income tenants in Scotland’s private rented sector want to see from a new Rented Sector: Emergent findings briefing.

Simcock T, McKee K, Soaita A, Harris J, Moore T, Marsh A & James G (2021) What do lower income tenants in Scotland’s private rented sector want to see from a new Rented Sector: Emergent findings briefing.. UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence. Glasgow. https://housingevidence.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Tenant_Insights_Scotland_CaCHE_Briefing_DEC2021.pdf

Website Content

The Role of PRS Landlords in Making a Rented House a Home

Rolfe S & McKee K (2021) The Role of PRS Landlords in Making a Rented House a Home. Housing Studies Association [blog] 04.02.2021. https://www.housing-studies-association.org/articles/276-the-role-of-prs-landlords-in-making-a-rented-house-a-home

Website Content

Housing Exclusion in the English Rental Market

McKee K & Preece J (2020) Housing Exclusion in the English Rental Market. UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence [Blog post] 03.03.2020. https://housingevidence.ac.uk/housing-exclusion-in-the-english-rental-market/

Research Report

Forms and Mechanisms of Exclusion in Contemporary Housing Systems: a scoping study

Preece J, Bimpson E, Robinson D, McKee K & Flint J (2020) Forms and Mechanisms of Exclusion in Contemporary Housing Systems: a scoping study. UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE). Glasgow. https://housingevidence.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/200204-forms-and-mechanisms-of-exclusion-in-contemporary-housing-systems_final.pdf

Project Report

The 'frustrated' housing aspirations of generation rent

McKee K & Soaita AM (2018) The 'frustrated' housing aspirations of generation rent. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence Research Report, R2018_06_01. Glasgow. http://housingevidence.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/R2018_06_01_Frustrated_Housing_Aspirations_of_Gen_Rent.pdf

Website Content

BLOG: HSA Sponsored Event - the Immigration Act and Public Services

McKee K & Leahy S (2018) BLOG: HSA Sponsored Event - the Immigration Act and Public Services. HSA: The Forum for Housing-Related Research and Debate (HSA News) [Blog post] 04.07.2018. https://housing-studies-association.org/2018/07/blog-hsa-sponsored-event-the-immigration-act-and-public-services/

Research Report

Household Changes and Housing Provision (invitee chapter)

Graham E, Fiori F & McKee K (2017) Household Changes and Housing Provision (invitee chapter). National Records for Scotland. Edinburgh. https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/stats-at-a-glance/registrar-generals-annual-review/2016/chapter-10-invited-chapter

Edited Book

Decentring Urban Governance: Narratives, Resistance and Contestation

Bevir M, McKee K & Matthews P (eds.) (2017) Decentring Urban Governance: Narratives, Resistance and Contestation. Routledge Studies in Governance and Public Policy. New York and London: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Decentring-Urban-Governance-Narratives-Resistance-and-Contestation/Bevir-McKee-Matthews/p/book/9781138229372

Discussion Paper

CHR Briefing 4 - Housing Young People in Rural Areas

Hoolachan J, McKee K & Moore T (2016) CHR Briefing 4 - Housing Young People in Rural Areas. Centre for Housing Research. CHR Briefings, 4. St Andrews. https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/8395/CHR_Briefing_Paper_4.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y

Discussion Paper

CHR Briefing 3: Housing Aspirations of People in Scotland

McKee K, Moore T & Crawford J (2015) CHR Briefing 3: Housing Aspirations of People in Scotland. Scottish Government. University of St Andrews. https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/7541/CHR_Briefing_3.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Other

Mind the Housing Wealth Gap WS4: summary research design

McKee K (2015) Mind the Housing Wealth Gap WS4: summary research design. Leverhulme. University of St Andrews. https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/8278/mckee_2015_Research_Design_WS4.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Research Report

Housing 'Generation Rent'

McKee K & Hoolachan J (2015) Housing 'Generation Rent'. Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland. CHR Briefing, 2. St Andrews. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/6895

Policy Document

Young people: tenure choices and welfare - summary findings

Soaita AM & McKee K (2015) Young people: tenure choices and welfare - summary findings. Leverhulme. St Andrews. https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/8280/End_Briefing_WS4.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Policy Document

CHR Briefing 2: Housing 'Generation Rent'

McKee K & Hoolachan J (2015) CHR Briefing 2: Housing 'Generation Rent'. Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland. St Andrews. https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/6895/Generation_Rent_Briefing_Paper.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Article

The Ownership of Assets by Place-based Community Organisations: political rationales, geographies of social impact and future research agendas

Moore T & McKee K (2014) The Ownership of Assets by Place-based Community Organisations: political rationales, geographies of social impact and future research agendas. Social Policy and Society, 13 (4), pp. 1-13. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-policy-and-society/article/ownership-of-assets-by-placebased-community-organisations-political-rationales-geographies-of-social-impact-and-future-research-agendas/6A90860EBD5F28ECBAFD51EB869E20A6; https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746413000481

Discussion Paper

Briefing 2: Localism and New Housing Futures

Moore T & McKee K (2014) Briefing 2: Localism and New Housing Futures. ESRC. St Andrews. https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/5106/Localism_Housing_Futures_Briefing_2.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Book Chapter

Foucauldian Analysis

McKee K (2012) Foucauldian Analysis. In: Smith SJ (ed.) International Encyclopaedia of Housing and Home. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Consultancy Report

Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations' Response to the Scottish Government's Regeneration Discussion Document: Building a Sustainable Future

McKee K (2011) Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations' Response to the Scottish Government's Regeneration Discussion Document: Building a Sustainable Future. Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations. Glasgow. https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/1849

See all 110 outputs

Teaching

I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and reviewer for Stirling's fellowship scheme.

I am currently the Faculty PGR Director for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. I was previously Director of the PGDip/MSc in Housing Studies programme (2019-26), which is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Housing. This is a flexible distance learning programme for part time students, both already working in housing and those seeking to work in the sector. I deliver modules HOUP001 (Providing Housing Services), HOUP002 (Sustainable Communities) & HOUP009 (Housing Research Project). Our programme was nominated by our students for 'outstanding programme' in the 2025 & 2026 University of Stirling RATE awards.

I also contribute to dissertation supervision & teaching on the undergraduate Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology programmes: SPCU9PB (Home, Housing & Communities) & honours level guest lectures e.g. CRMU9TN (Crimes of the Powerful).

I am an experienced PhD supervisor and mentor of externally funded postdoctoral fellows. I'm open to supervising in my areas of expertise and with a focus on qualitative methods. Current PGRs include:

Player-Duncan: People who use Drugs in Deindustrialised Scotland; Noles: Housing Precarity in the Scottish PRS - disabled people, their families & their carers' experiences (with Housing Options Scotland); Roberts: Tenant-landlord communication strategies in the English social rented sector; McClelland: Tenants, Tenements, and Thermal Comfort (with Stirling City Heritage Trust); Portman: Housing Data & Culture.

Research programmes

Research centres/groups

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