University of Glasgow Law Students Take on Housing Crisis Through ‘Tinyhome Initiative
A group of University of Glasgow law students are providing compliance and finance support to the social enterprise homefolk. This October, they joined students from the University of Sheffield and Queen Mary University of London to work on the ‘homefolk model’ aimed at sustainably addressing the housing crisis. homefolk, founded by London School of Medicine graduate Dr Adam Mitchell, proposes developing underutilised ‘greyfield’ sites in urban areas – that is, lands that have been previously developed but are now underutilized – into eco-friendly tiny home communities.
PM Keir Starmer had previously announced plans to create a “new generation” of large towns and suburbs in the UK to deal with Britain’s housing crisis. The plan was unveiled last year and it consists of developing greybelt areas into 1.5 million affordable houses. Although homefolk is a for-profit business and is not linked to the government, it proposes a plan that is in line with Labour’s.
By developing tiny homes in marginal urban spaces, they aim to create affordable housing solutions that prioritise community, health, and environmental sustainability. The small architecture of tiny homes would require less heating – and hence, less fossil fuel dispersion. To be environmentally friendly, they promise to use natural building materials, renewable electric utilities, and composting onsite to promote nutrient cycling and reduce landfill methane emissions. The project includes a community garden which would also contribute to making tiny homes environmentally conscious. An integrated community garden would bring back life to previously sterile paved spaces and rainwater collecting from every roof space would be used for its irrigation.
homefolk is against no-fault evictions, rent rises, and the psychological violence of contractual requirements imposed by landlords. This is where our student colleagues come into the picture. Amy McGlip, a student legal volunteer for the project, said “we generally conduct legal research, policy review, network with similar organisations for information sharing or collaboration, and advise homefolk on legal matters as they come up”. However, she highlighted that University of Glasgow law students’ biggest achievement has been working on developing a layered legal model. McGlip explained that their model aims to prevent the speculation and financialisation of homes when bought and sold and ensure that new homes remain affordable over time.
homefolk is currently in the process of developing a pilot site in London’s East End.
