Why Does Britain Have a Housing Crisis?

Since 1960, the average age of buying a first house has risen over 10 years, and the multiple of income needed has increased. From the late 1970s, social housing declined and problems of home ownership subsequently arose. As a result, more people rent nowadays, often in substandard accommodation. Why has housing in British cities reached this state of crisis? This lecture looks back to the Victorian era and will explain the shift to owner-occupation and council housing after the First World War. It considers possible solutions and asks whether there are lessons from other cities.