Damp, decay and delay: the many fractures of the housing crisis

After over a decade of bad policy, perpetual underinvestment and a chronic lack of political will, Britain's social housing is on its knees. Are Labour’s proposals ambitious enough to fix it?

Photo by Pedro Ramos on Unsplash

When Jenna* and her partner moved into her two-bedroom maisonette in north London 11 years ago they felt like they’d hit the jackpot. After years of social renting, the pair finally had a permanent social tenancy: a home to call their own. 

Less than a week later, they noticed problems. 

“We moved in October 2013 and by Nov…