The granddaddy of them all: Windsor Castle. While it may not be called a palace, for 900 years this fortress has been a home from home to Britain’s royalty … ‘Windsor castle is the largest occupied castle on the planet …’ This vast royal home comprises 951 rooms including 225 bedrooms and covers some 13 acres, and the look is straight out of a fairy-book. Secrets of the Royal Palaces III, Channel 5 2021
The Queen’s Doll’s House: built in the 1920s … showcasing contributions from 1,500 of the finest craftsmen and manufacturers of the day, this was not your average doll’s house ... ‘there was bathrooms, a garage, cellars, a vault, kitchens, it’s simply the most spectacular doll’s house anywhere in the world’ … including 700 paintings … real jewellers and goldsmiths … a library an envy of any book club ... no detail was too small … ‘electricity was installed throughout the house’ … proper taps with hot and cold running water … even the cellar is the real deal. ibid.
By the look in your eye
I can tell you’re gonna cry
Is it over me?
If it is, save your tears
For I’m not worth it
You see
For I’m the type of boy who is always on the roam
Wherever I lay my hat that’s my home
I’m telling you that’s my home
You had romance
Did you break it by chance
Over me?
If it’s so, I’d like for you to know
That I’m not worth it
You see
For I’m the type of boy who is always on the roam
Wherever I lay my hat that’s my home
That’s my home. Marvin Gaye et al, song Wherever I Lay My Hat
And we say to Mr Cutler and his band of brigands in County Hall that we are not paying a penny more now, tomorrow or never. Not a Penny on the Rents, tenant, 1968
Tenants’ action: September 22 to November 19 1968. ibid. caption
‘If there’s any chance of my husband and myself and the children going squatting again, we would be very grateful to go. Because they was the only people who had the decency to help us. The Camden council have not. Squatters, woman, short 17.09, 1970
‘The authorities cannot and will not solve the housing situation.’ ibid. man
The force of the law was used to aid property rackets. ibid.
‘These evictions by Council and Quatermain were absolutely and entirely illegal.’ ibid.
After the dust had settled, ten million Americans had been evicted or otherwise lost their homes in the years following the crash. America’s Looming Eviction Crisis, Youtube 11.29, Second Thought 2020
To make matters worse, the repossessed homes were then snapped up by wealthy individuals and corporations as investment properties. ibid.
According to current projections, of the 110 million Americans currently living in rental properties, at least 20% of them are facing eviction. ibid.
‘A staggering shortage of homes on the market right now.’ America’s Looming Housing Crisis, news, Youtube 14.03, Second Thought 2021
The US is on a collision course with another housing crisis. ibid.
‘Red Hot Housing Market: high demand, bidding wars strip some of homeowner dream.’ ibid. ABC News banner
The pace of housing production has slowed dramatically. ibid.
Entire generations of American no longer being able to afford single family homes; we have rapidly increasing rent prices to the point where an eviction crisis is very likely. ibid.
A place to call home and a decent place at that. For hours over the last few weeks politicians have talked about houses … To millions of people in Britain today a decent place to live is home. World in Action: Living in Slums, ITV 1963
It’s going to be the biggest change in generations. The homes we live in and the cars we drive all transformed. Heat Pumps: What They Really Mean For You, BBC 2023
Heat pumps: ‘This is an £18,000 installation.’ ibid.
The government intends to ban the sale of new gas boilers by 2035. ibid.
Current models are 3 to 5 times more energy efficient than traditional boilers. ibid.
The problem is most British homes just aren’t as well insulated. ibid.