Developments in housing provision and policy between 2010 and the General Election that resulted in a change in government in 2024 were marked by a determination to shrink the state, reverse the increases in public expenditure on housing introduced after 2007, and adopt austerity and welfare reform. With the global economic crisis still affecting the housing market government embarked on policies to increase rents and reduce and cap welfare benefits. These actions, together and with the legacy of reduced provision of affordableaffordable housing, increased poverty and inequality and shaped the housing situation in the 2020s. In addition there was serial failure to energise the building industry to increase housing supply, whilst demand from affluent and overseas buyers maintained high house prices, especially in high demand areas. Government’s reference to a ‘broken housing market’ did not lead to any dramatic changes in policy. BrexitBrexit, the COVID-19 pandemicCovid 19 pandemic and constant changes in personnel in government affected action in dealing with health and safety issues and a deteriorating housing situation.