This new analysis of housing policy in Britain since 1945 challenges conventional notions of the relationship between housing and the welfare state. It argues that housing policy in the years after the Second World War is better understood in terms of market restructuring. However, in more recent years housing has been at the forefront of changes that have drawn it closer to other welfare state services, and the modernisation of public services is continuing the trend.

Established as the leading text in the field, this thoroughly revised and updated edition provides a comprehensive account of the current issues, set in a clear historical context. It assesses the legacy of eighteen years of Conservative governments and the initial policy impact of New Labour and the problems and challenges it now confronts. This book remains essential reading for all who wish to understand and contribute to determining the pace and direction of change in housing into the twenty-first century.