What are the major housing problems in contemporary Britain? How effective are the policies designed to tackle these problems? These are the central questions this book sets out to answer, using a critical approach to identifying housing problems and the formation of policy. Understanding housing policy is an up-to-date text on a rapidly changing policy field written by an author with extensive experience in implementing housing policy. The second edition of this best-selling text has been completely revised and includes a new chapter on the political processes involved in the construction and delivery of housing policies. In addition, the new edition: * reviews theoretical perspectives helpful in understanding the normative dimensions of housing policy; * examines explanations of policy development and implementation processes; * explores the development of housing policy in the United Kingdom; * contains a chapter on comparative housing policy; * examines a number of contemporary housing problems: affordability; homelessness; low demand and neighbourhood deprivation; overcrowding; multi-occupation; 'decent' homes and 'sustainable' housing. * devotes a chapter to the relationship between housing and social justice; * includes an assessment of the impact of New Labour's housing policies and the policy orientation of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat Coalition. For more detailed information on this title, please go to the author's website http://housingpolicy.moonfruit.com