Originally published in 1986 at a time when Britain was facing a major housing crisis, this book, containing much original research, examines the crisis and analyses the reasons for it, providing foundations for the construction of effective new policies. As relevant now as when it was first published the book discusses under investment in housing stock, in both the public and private sectors, renovation and maintenance and neglect of particular disadvantaged groups such as the elderly, the single homeless and those in low income groups.