Housing Inequality in the 21st Century: Social Policy and the Political Economy of Housing in the UK

Why does housing inequality persist in one of the world’s wealthiest nations? This book exposes how deep-rooted political and economic forces continue to shape unequal housing outcomes in the UK. Moving beyond headlines and policy snapshots, it uncovers how housing inequality is embedded more broadly within political economy, tracing how global crises, austerity, and shifting welfare regimes intersect to produce today’s housing landscape. Offering a fresh, holistic analysis, this book situates housing within the wider social policy context, arguing that meaningful solutions must address the complex interplay of social, economic, and political factors that shape both policy and lived experience. Interdisciplinary in nature, the book connects social policy, housing studies, and political economy to guide readers in better understanding – and challenging – the perpetual injustices at the heart of the UK’s housing system.