The world has still to emerge fully from the housing-triggered Global Financial Crisis, but housing crises are not new. The history of housing shows long-run social progress, littered with major disasters; nevertheless the progress is often forgotten, whilst the difficulties hit the headlines....

Introduction -- Urban decline and informality -- Regulations and enforcement -- From illicit to informal -- Informality beyond politics or poverty -- Necessity appropriators -- Lifestyle appropriators -- Routine appropriators -- Surviving the city or settling the city? -- Regulating informality,...