ABSTRACT
Shelter, water and food are generally accepted as the basic needs of life. Housing is a fundamental need; it provides shelter and also gives access to a decent water supply. In many circumstances it also affects your ability to get an adequate food supply. However, housing issues and housing policy in the UK today have a low profile, both in the minds of the general public and on the political agenda. Housing is not generally thought of as an area of professional activity-the idea of housing as a subject of academic study is often greeted with genuine surprise.
