Peter Apps

I was born into a city where housing was affordable. But I've grown up into one where it was not. What has gone wrong in London over the last 35 years? And where is it going in the future? My new book, Homesick, tells that story. Out Sept 25 amazon.co.uk/Homesick-How-H…

You can read an interview she's done with my Inside Housing colleague Eliza Parr here: insidehousing.co.uk/insight/mother…

Fiona Garrett lost her son, Joshua, aged 23 when a railing on a balcony in a housing association property gave way earlier this year. She's pushing for a duty of candour and mandatory inspections for safety barriers. She has a petition here: change.org/p/improve-safe…

Seven companies are Arconic, Kingspan, Exova (including Warrington Fire), Harley Facades, Rydon, Studio E and the entirety of the Saint Gobain group - which is massive in size:

Govt ministers and officials have been advised not to meet with, or attend conferences sponsored by, seven companies criticised, in the Grenfell report (or any of their former executives, or individuals directly criticised): gov.uk/government/pub…

Some thoughts and further details here: peteapps.substack.com/p/whats-the-la…

Grenfell United statement: But after waiting nearly 10 years, our community cannot be expected to endure years more of delay. [Gov] must ensure courts are properly resourced so that any prosecutions are heard swiftly. Justice delayed any further would be unacceptable.

Grenfell criminal investigation update today: - Police on track to deliver charging files to CPS by Sept - CPS hopes to make decisions before 10th anniversary in June 2027. Arrests will follow that if they approve charges - 57 individuals and 20 orgs under suspiscion

Anecdotal (but expert) evidence suggests private landlords have been moving into this space in greater numbers in recent months to avoid Renters Rights laws. Ironically, if this drove evictions, it means homelessness accommodation increases homelessness

This is now a huge part of the housing market, and a massive beneficiary of public expenditure. London Councils estimates that every household in the capital pays £202 a year directly to TA providers through their council tax bill

Estate agents offering private landlords 'guaranteed rent' deals rake in millions every month from London boroughs to house homeless families. A mini-investigation by me for the @BigIssue looks to a put a name to some of the biggest recipients: bigissue.com/news/housing/h…

@AntBreach I mean, it certainly does *also* say that certain YIMBYs are extremely annoying, but I'm not presenting that as an argument against second staircases. It's more the way they - you know - dismiss and misrepresent other people's views on X

@AntBreach Doesn't it actually say that a single staircase makes simultaneous egress and fire fighting impossible, a position vocally supported by the IAFF? And that one staircase leaves you a single propped or defective door from disaster?

Bizarre argument here from Apps defending the very low 18m height requirements for double stair apartment buildings. Even though people he respects have explained why it doesn't improve fire safety, we should keep it because cost-benefit analysis is fake and Yimbys are annoying.

Going to do the occasional history post on Substack, largely guided by something I've read about housing and thought 'huh, that's interesting, didn't know enough about that previously'. This time it's the Glasgow Rent Strike open.substack.com/pub/peteapps/p…

We do not talk enough about the way homelessness drives 'guaranteed rent' housing, and the negative impact that has on everyone. There are many better ways: inews.co.uk/opinion/uk-ren…

Solutions are available. What is missing is the political will to say that enough children have died. peteapps.substack.com/p/this-shouldn…