Tenants : the people on the frontline of Britain's housing emergency

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2022, METRO, EVENING STANDARD, REFINERY29, COSMOPOLITAN 'Tenants should be compulsory reading for every politician' - Pandora Sykes 'Open-minded and formidably informed, Spratt is a compelling narrator. Her stories of people wrenched from their homes by so-called no-fault evictions are startling and infuriating ... it forces you to step back, look at the whole wretched system and think: "Why do we put up with this?"' The Times 'A major new book on the history and politics of renting' Evening Standard Tony is facing eviction instead of enjoying retirement; Limarra isn't 'homeless enough' to get help from the council; and for Kelly and her asthmatic son Morgan, another new rented house is a matter of life and death. This is twenty-first century Britain, where millions are trying to build lives in privately rented accommodation, which creates profit for landlords but not safe and stable homes for tenants. This fierce and moving account tells their stories, and the story of how we built a housing system where homelessness is a constant threat. Award-winning housing journalist Vicky Spratt traces decades of bad decisions to show how and why the British dream of homeownership has withered and the safety net of social housing has unravelled. She has spent years talking with those on the frontline all around the country. Here, she illuminates the ways this national emergency cuts across generations, class and education and is devastating our health, destroying communities and transforming the social, economic and political landscape beyond recognition. But it is not irreversible. The Covid-19 pandemic showed that radical action is possible, and there are real steps we can take to give everyone the chance of a good home. This urgent, ground breaking book leads the way. ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2022, METRO, EVENING STANDARD, REFINERY29, COSMOPOLITAN'Tenants should be compulsory reading for every politician' - Pandora Sykes'Important heartbreaking and shocking ... it forces you to step back, look at the whole wretched system and "Why do we put up with this?" Whether you are a tenant or a landlord, or indeed a government minister, this is a vital read.' The Times'A major new book on the history and politics of renting' Evening StandardA WATERSTONES BEST POLITICS BOOK OF 2022A TIMES BEST BUSINESS BOOK OF 2022Tony is facing eviction instead of enjoying retirement; Limarra isn't 'homeless enough' to get help from the council; and for Kelly and her asthmatic son Morgan, another new rented house is a matter of life and death. This is twenty-first century Britain, where millions are trying to build lives in privately rented accommodation, which creates profit for landlords but not safe and stable homes for tenants.This fierce and moving account tells their stories, and the story of how we built a housing system where homelessness is a constant threat. Award-winning housing journalist Vicky Spratt traces decades of bad decisions to show how and why the British dream of homeownership has withered and the safety net of social housing has unravelled. She has spent years talking with those on the frontline all around the country. Here, she illuminates the ways this national emergency cuts across generations, class and education and is devastating our health, destroying communities and transforming the social, economic and political landscape beyond recognition.But it is not irreversible. The Covid-19 pandemic showed that radical action is possible, and there are real steps we can take to give everyone the chance of a good home. This urgent, ground breaking book leads the way. Tony has rented his whole life, and instead of enjoying retirement is facing eviction; Limarra isn't 'homeless enough' to get help from the council; Nicola is living in a mould-infested former care home; and for Kelly and her asthmatic son Morgan, another new rented house is a matter of life and death. This is twenty-first century Britain, where millions of people are forced into the private rental sector - a sector designed to create profit for landlords, not safe and stable homes for tenants. In this fierce and moving account, Vicky Spratt traces decades of bad decisions to show how and why the British dream of homeownership has withered and the safety net of social housing has been broken. Its effects are illuminated through the lives and everyday struggles of those stuck in the modern renting trap. From gentrification to homelessness, poor conditions to constant insecurity, this crisis is shaping our mental and physical health, our communities, safety and political landscape. But Vicky also reveals the urgent, radical steps needed to give everyone the chance of a good home Tony is facing eviction instead of enjoying retirement; Limarra isn't 'homeless enough' to get help from the council; and for Kelly and her asthmatic son Morgan, another new rented house is a matter of life and death. This is twenty-first century Britain, where millions are forced into the private rental sector - a sector that creates profit for landlords, not safe and stable homes for tenants.In this fierce and moving account, journalist Vicky Spratt traces decades of bad policy decisions to show how and why the British dream of homeownership has withered and the safety net of social housing has broken. Through the lives of those in the renting trap, she illuminates the ways this crisis is devastating our health, communities and political landscape. But, as the Covid epidemic showed, there are also real, radical steps we can take to give everyone the chance of a good home. The urgent story of this country's biggest crisis, told through the lives of those it most affects.