Originally published in 1982, this is a companion volume to State Housing in Britain. Together the 2 volumes cover the tenure of some 85% of all British households in much of the 20th Century. The development of the tenure between 1918 and 1970 with special reference to its position in state housing policies is examined. Subsequent chapters analyse effective demand since 1970, both with respect to its demographic base and as regards the capacity to buy. In particular the question of why people want to buy is asked and the supply of housing (both council houses and former private rented accommodation) as well as the output of speculative housebuilders is considered. A detailed survey of the perturbations in the housing market during the volatile experience of the British economy since 1970 is also covered.

Originally published in 1990, and re-issued in 2020 with an updated Preface, this book shows how the UK has become a nation of home owners, and the effect it has had on people’s lives, the impact which it has had on British society and the implications for those who have hitherto been excluded. The book briefly charts the history of the growth of owner-occupation in Britain and considers the evidence on the popularity of owning as opposed to renting. The question of whether and how owner occupiers accumulate wealth from their housing is discussed and the evidence on the political implications of the growth of owner-occupation examined. The influence of buying a house on the way that home is experienced is analysed and the sociological implications in regard to the analysis of social inequalities in Britain discussed. The research for the book was based on in-depth interviews with home-owners and tenants in Burnley, Derby and Slough.