Peter Apps

Journalist, Inside Housing and elsewhere. Author of Show Me The Bodies and Homesick

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

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 https://t.co/LpBQiEYP3f

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

Also, a bit of chutzpah to use the past tense for the problems cited in this paragraph when they are still very much part of the present and there are no policies designed to fix them. Labour has set a new record for families in TA every time new stats have come out:

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

Not much in this. Fixing legal gaps around eviction of domestic abusers is good, but it can't be spun as a transformative housing policy and nothing else is remotely new. Also, the numbers he's boasting about come from programmes started by the prior govt

https://t.co/9pNf1vf0z2

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

Dining across the housing divide with Jamie Ratcliff -

We debate housing supply, rent control, building safety and more:

https://t.co/aJj0uD7rWs

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

You can read an interview she's done with my Inside Housing colleague Eliza Parr here: https://t.co/kJ7k8bjsLs

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

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:

https://t.co/gQv4riLgMF

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

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:

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

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):

https://t.co/AqdVmOkUVz

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

Some thoughts and further details here: https://t.co/u7xgsrsS93

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

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

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

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.

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

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

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

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:

https://t.co/i5695hSbGh

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

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

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

@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

[Peter Apps @PeteApps]

@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?