You can never have enough...

[Oh_hunnihunni]

My flat was built in the 1960s, in a council pensioner village of twelve bedsit units, they'd call them studios now. They're brick, 30sq metres, small kitchen and bathroom, and are only updated rarely when tenancies end. Mine was updated in the mid 70s, when a shower replaced the bath - same mixer unit still functions today, sort of lol. Since being transferred out of council management we've had insulation, heat pumps, and wet area fans put in by govt reg, but because these are such solid construction most of us don't see much point in them - though the heat pump gets a bit of use in deepest winter. I'd love a new kitchen, the cabinets are worn out, but that'll be done when I'm gone. Meantime the place is perfectly adequate for my needs, at my age, and in my family circumstances. But the best bit is its location beside an acre of lightly fenced reserve with massive old trees and sloping lawn that anyone can walk through with their dog, or just enjoy as a cool space to look at or be in. That makes the tiniest, even slightly run down living space worth putting up with. It feeds the soul.

A lifetime covers a range of housing needs, the small space for the singles, young, or old, then the next one up for the couples, the bigger space for family or groups who like to share, it changes as our lives change. For me it is those shared parks and gardens, with space to grow things, or just to sit and enjoy - safely and easily accessed, that is as important as providing roofs over heads. And if we could just do both with more consideration for the lifetime and purpose of the buildings within an equally considered environment we might be a healthier and better housed community all round.

Maybe if we could remove the property profit component it might be easier to do.