The Madness of Housing

Those who have read Douglas Murray’s recent fascinating book, The Madness of Crowds may have been struck by the parallel with Housing.

Whilst Murray explains the Social justice movement effect on Gay, Feminist, Race and Transgender issues, the effects are far more reaching.  He makes the point that a generation who believe that they may never own their own home are attracted to the concept of Social justice that seeks to cure every inequity in their own lives and indeed, across the world.

He explains Social justice as identity politics (or ‘someone’s better off than me’ syndrome.) which finds its caucuses in secular interests. He outlines tactics that such groups adapt to gain traction and I have taken analogies from these examples and applied them to Housing.

A clear divergence is highlighted between the many Housing charities who provide food and accommodation for the homeless, and the campaigning groups that adopt an adversarial approach.

Within tenant campaign groups, I suggest that the identity politics they campaign for only seeks to serve the minority of tenants against the interest of the majority. An example of this is explained around the use of Section 21.

The pervasiveness of social justice into the legislature is discussed in relation to the pandemic and the Lord Chancellor’s instruction to Bailiffs, not to enforce legal court possession orders. (Upon threat of Judicial Review by JMW solicitors)

Murray suggests that the ‘way to escape the madness’ is for some generosity in interpreting the remarks of the opposing side, less trench-digging.  I show how Landlords are already behaving as ‘grown-ups’ by acknowledging and condemning the few ‘bad landlords’.

Tenant groups need to accept Bad tenants exist and reciprocate)

The article is longer than usually posted here, and I’ve summarised it as a form of introduction. Full article on;   https://www.possessionfriend.uk/2021/01/09/the-madness-of-housing/