我的囚租人生：租客面試、畸形格局、房東消失⋯⋯25年租屋經驗如何影響歸屬感，以及對居住文化與家的想像

by Kieran Yates, 李忞 (Translator)

只是想有個正常地方住，怎麼這麼難？
發霉、合租、貨櫃屋，囚租三寶，一個沒少！
沒有安居之處的我們，連「家」都是一種遙不可及的奢望……

當不斷搬遷超過二十多處居所，
「家」，如何在流離中形成？

糟糕房東、發霉牆壁、尷尬的家庭式公寓，這些都不算稀奇，吉蘭．葉慈的經歷比你想得更離奇！二十五歲時，她已經在英國住過二十多處居所，遇過各式各樣的房東與租客。

住過不小心就會摔下樓的汽車展覽廳
房東冷處理整片都是黴菌的牆壁，導致呼吸道感染
租客面試堪比百大企業面試
幻想捕捉屋裡的黴菌製作成乳酪獻給房東
與室友瘋狂洗刷整間房子只為少少的押金……

即便大多租屋經驗都不是太好，甚至可說是荒謬，但葉慈仍在漫長的租屋時光裡，生動地描繪面對居住品質低落的無可奈何，以及這些灰暗日子裡閃爍的人性微光。雖然處處非家，卻能處處為家。

住進一間又一間並不宜居的房子中，葉慈也揭露了住房危機背後的問題：國家對社會住宅、弱勢與少數族裔居住權的漠視。在漫長的租屋生涯裡，讓我們知道面對租屋被強制收回、鄰里不友善，甚至是整個社會的排擠，我們可以透過參與居住權社團、結交鄰居朋友、試圖營造一個「家」等方式因應。

這本書寫給正在尋找下一個住所的你、曾對租屋有過複雜感受的你，
也寫給渴望有個家的你。

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, Politics, Sociology, Biography, Biography Memoir

304 pages, Paperback

Published September 28, 2024

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could have been just another piece of investigative journalism, citing the many ways in which the housing system here in the UK fails, but in fact Kieran Yates gives us a fascinating insight into her own personal experience of the system that let her, and her family down on numerous occasions.

Never could this book be more relevant than right now in 2023. Home should be that safe haven away from the madness of the world, a place that provides all our creature comforts, something that we’re not afraid of losing.

Unfortunately this isn’t the case for many ( increasingly so), but what a fascinating memoir this is, covering as it does, The Housing Act of 1980 which was an Act of Parliament passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom that gave five million council house tenants in England and Wales the Right to Buy their house from their local authority. The Act came into force on 3 October 1980 and is seen as a defining policy of Thatcherism. It was a great opportunity for tenants to purchase their homes at reasonable cost but ultimately it meant less housing stock for those unable to afford to buy, and the stock was never truly replenished. Social housing is explored along with, class inequality and gentrification. Landlords and estate agents also come under the spotlight.

A fascinating, interesting and important piece of social history.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

[Keen Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Working class taste has long been criticised as being ‘trashy’ – anti-minimalism, cramped – where middle-class homes with the same chaos are ‘maximalist’. Like denying food to stay skinny, there is something inherently uncomfortable to me about rich people and minimalist décor – taking up space to fill it with nothing.”

Falling somewhere pleasantly between Kerry Hudson’s “Lowborn”, Lynsey Hanley’s “Estates” and Selina Todd’s “Class”, Yates takes us on quite an interesting journey into her childhood and beyond, whilst examining many aspects – political, cultural and social around them and of course uses each house as a jumping off point for deeper and more satisfying analysis.

She touches upon property speculators and real estate agents and she discovers a guy who heads up a site which “creates property imagery”, this translates to those in the real world as spending a lot of time and money to make properties bigger or better than they actually are.

We also learn about the impact of transpiration cooling (the process by which plants release water vapour that cools the air around them), and get a grim insight into the dark world of bailiffs - puffed up on ego and impunity.Elsewhere she talks about the use and abuse of value engineering, kerbside appeal, domestic CCTV and see how fear is cynically employed as a commodity as well as personal and linked nostalgia.

So Yates proves to be an affable and engaging voice on this powerful and at time poignant recollection and summary of her varied experiences of English/Welsh rental housing and this definitely worth the read.

[Gijs · Rating 5 out of 5]

weinig echt nieuws maar desondanks prachtig leerzaam grappig woestmakend inspirerend en bovenal: heel ontroerend. verrrreweg het beste boek in het 'wooncrisisgenre' (om het zo maar te noemen). misschien schrijf ik later nog een echte recensie maar voor nu mijn bindende advies: lees dit boek

ps hoe kan alles in engeland nog zo veel erger zijn dan hier. afschuwelijk

[Esme Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes yes a thousand times yes.

This book is for anyone who has ever faced housing insecurity, for anyone who has dragged house plants up Brixton hill and squashed boxes of books into uncles cars, for anyone who has had to audition for a roof over their head, or who has had to audition others, for anyone that has not been allowed to stick nails in walls, to make a house a home, to sit at appointments at the job centre knowing that if they say no you can’t make rent, for anyone who has worked multiple jobs, evenings and weekends to pay 2/3rds of a salary on a sub-letted box room with another person’s pictures on the walls, to anyone who has had to live with strangers who turn the hot water off in the summer cos “we don’t need hot water when it’s hot” and had to wash their grimy saucepans in freezing cold water, for anyone that has breathed in mould all winter and sweated all summer long with windows that don’t fully close or open, for anyone who has had to move with a days notice, has lived in air bnb’s, on friends’ pull out sofas, with friends or squatted in buildings being prepared for demolition, for anyone who’s lived with mice, mould and maybe a cockroach or two: This book is for YOU. I never thought I would feel so SEEN over something that seems inevitable????

Every single one of the above scenarios is based on real life events from my life; and I counted out of curiosity - I’ve lived in 20 homes in 31 years. We need to start imagining better ways to live, rent and make a home, for EVERYONE. I’ve never bought into the ‘owning property will make ur life complete’ bullshit, and have zero aspirations to own my own home, but I also recognise that in the completely unstable shit show that is the 21st century why buying a little plot of land with some bricks on it can seem like the only thing to make everything ok.

[Alice Redfearn · Rating 4 out of 5]

have accidentally lived in so many of the same areas in London as in this book! So much research + relatable lived experience of the Housing / rental crisis

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven’t whipped through a non-fic so fast in a while. The way Yates links her personal storytelling (sad / delightful / all of it) to deep problems with housing as a commodity is great. A lot that I could relate to our housing woes in NZ - the chapter on mould was wildly relevant. Also great calls for policy change in the conclusions. Recommended!

[Fiz|فيز (Substack link in bio) · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the Houses I've Ever Lived In is probably one of the best books to describe how perfectly the UK is failing many people and the many ways in which the housing system is designed to work against you and not for you. Kieran takes us through the different houses she has lived through in her life and how in turn each government/system has repeatedly failed her. This is a really good memoir not only does Keiran take us through her life and struggles with the housing system but she educates the reader on how it all works. From explaining laws to dealing with bailiffs and landlords and how to make home anywhere. She also highlights housing in regards to class, inequality and gentrification, racism and major negligence and explores Grenfell. This book is amazingly written and resonated with me deeply everyone should read this book.

Quotes/
'You can make a home anywhere, with small objects tyat connect you to a community, time or place.'

'This is a book that explores how it feels to move and some of the reasons we feel a sense of nostalgia about our old homes. We inhabit the spaces we are in. They give something to us and we give something to them, too.'

'Housing is a justice issue'.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am just starting my journey of getting into non-fiction, and what a wonderful place to start.

All The Houses I’ve Ever Lived is a beautiful and fascinating memoir of what ‘home’ really means and a commentary of the current workings (and failings) of the housing system in Britain.

Yates not only explores social housing, the rental market, gentrification and class inequality - but also the little overlooked parts of home; garden, pillows, wallpapers, the feeling of somewhere that is truly yours.
The intimate stories of childhood and belonging hit deep into my own personal experiences of never truly finding a home, redefining what we know and perceive ‘home’ truly as.

Not only does this highlight the urgency regarding the current housing market and what is needed in terms of the right of safe and secure housing - this book is also emotional, moving and incredibly important.

I look forward for the release of this book to get my hands on a physical copy!

* Thank you to Netgalley for the arc *

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t believe this book has introduced any ideas, concepts, or realities that someone who belongs to Generation Rent (eg. me) doesn’t already know. However, Yates recalling her life journey alongside the larger picture of national (and international) failings is really effective. One thing she did overlook is what does it actually mean to live somewhere. I guess she touches on it a bit, with gentrification, the temporality of tenancy agreements, and second home ownership, but not what it means spiritually.

[Malz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I’ve read on the topic but I loved Yates’ writing - its incisive and honest. It makes you realise 1. You’re owed more from your housing & council than you reluctantly accept as your reality 2. Housing issue is a class issue is a race issue is a gender issue. Understanding that if you care about them you’ll come to care about this too

[Freya Pigott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not necessarily a revelatory read, but the personal tales of home with the backdrop of the national housing crisis in the UK tells an effective story. I feel incredibly lucky both past and present, but know that we all deserve a better housing future!

[khadra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me both incredibly grateful for my stable family home and despondent over the current state and future of housing across the UK.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well researched and written, this is a fascinatingly in-depth look at the housing crisis in Britain from the author's unique point of view. At times, shocking and sigh-inducing (towards the government), it also manages to be funny and nostalgic (particularly for 90s kids). Everyone should read this and take action!

[Beatriz García · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of rage and love, and beautifully written. A thought-provoking analysis of the current housing system balanced with thoughts and ideas about what a home is, what we keep when we move, what we forget, what we dream about and the importance of community.
I was looking forward to read this book and oh, how happy I am to have read it!! A well-balanced reminder of how lucky we are and how much is there to improve so that we can live in a world that truly secures the human right to adequate housing.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant and should be read by everyone. We all need a home, somewhere safe we can come back to at the end of the day, and yet this book shows us how actually achieving that, having a place to call your own, is becoming ever more of a challenge.

It is much more than an examination of the housing crisis. Whilst the book has been written by a journalist, with facts, figures and research to back up all the claims, it is also a memoir/biography of the author's life so far, detailing some of the places she has lived, both as a child, teenager and adult. She tells us about her family life, growing up in temporary housing, sofa surfing, even floor surfing at one point. Yet it is always told in a positive light and with lots of good humour.

The book covers the usual problems associated with housing, such as the lack of it, especially for minority groups, social housing, from the huge sell off of council property to living conditions associated with damp, mould and security. From the gentrification of areas and the ever increasing unaffordability of any type of ownership, be it rented or bought, to the breaking up of communities and what it means to be part of a community.

Kieran Yates isn't just another investigative journalist relating other people's stories of their struggles with housing. She has lived it herself, every aspect of it. I love the way this book has been written. It is so compelling, I just couldn't put it down. She comes across in a chatty, friendly way. Yes, she is angry at how people are expected to live, but is always able to find a silver lining in the most daunting of situations. Above all, she gives a glimmer of hope in activism, in community, in looking out for each other. An inspiring, informative, powerful account of our housing crisis which needs to be heard, but more importantly acted upon.

[Safiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I talk about wanting balance in these information based memoirs, of which I be read a few in the past few years. A number I’ve read feel like two separate books - one that is memoir and another that is a text book. All this to say that Yates strikes the balance perfectly here.

Perhaps it’s my own familiarity with some of the homes she finds herself in, but her personal stories are told so intimately, with the data peppered in so well that it feels completely natural.

There is so much covered here - the right to (safe, secure) housing, renting, social housing, green space, gentrification, interior design, the list goes on - all with nuance, consideration and sensitivity. There are pages that I’ve highlighted to an inch of their life. I’ve already recommended this book to a handful of people that I think will relate to this book on both a professional and personal level, and I’ll especially look forward to actually owning a copy that I can foist on people!

*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley *

[Jim Fettes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incisive, thoughtful, and colourful, Yates weaves personal experience with politics, research, and activism. A joy to read, and a must for anyone familiar with the vagaries of the rental experience (and those who aren't).

[Robert Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kieran Yates is a journalist with many contributions to topics like immigration, youth culture and politics. Her first book, All The Houses I’ve Lived In delves into UK housing, highlighting a flawed system that has failed many citizens from all walks of life.

There are multiple components at play; the author takes us through her personal experiences, comments on what home means to people, gives context for different UK governments and adds in extra detail from interviewees. Studies of mould outbreaks, statistics for homelessness, comments on the state of social housing; Yates has packed a lot into 291 pages. Her background as a child of immigrants is always front and centre which runs alongside changing communities.

There’s a major focus on how Kieran has been uprooted and made to start over many times by factors outside of her control. From Beresford Road all the way to Peckham Rye, the author's story comprises many different issues like rising rent costs and gentrification. Lying between the chapters are brief notes on possessions, relying on friends for help and other miscellaneous areas. This stops the book from getting too bogged down in the serious analysis.

It’s all tied together by a personable and often humorous  tone that makes for easy reading. If you’ve ever lived in a rental property that didn’t meet the threshold for safe habitation or looked on helplessly as house prices rise, you’ll find the book very relatable. Kieran’s sarcasm, humour and frustration are keenly felt throughout. When you look at how dicey the housing market is today, it’s easy to sympathise with both the author and those who struggle to keep a roof over their heads.

Recommended?

YES: It’s very politically charged, but ATHILI is written with a skilful hand. Kieran tells her story with a series of detailed chapters, blending seamlessly between anecdote and wider social commentary. She layers additional research and interviews on top, creating a detailed chronicle of the housing crisis. No matter your place in the market, this is well worth a read.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75

"A home should not have to be earned."

Reading this book whilst trying to find a flat in London has slapped me in the face. I honestly had some PTSD level flashbacks when listening to the section on housemate auditions. I still distinctly remember telling potential flatmates that I loved the outdoors, running and climbing, when in fact I would rather spend 4 months in a hole than do any of the above mentioned activities.

"All the Houses I've Ever Lived In" is my favourite form of non-fiction, part memoir, part investigative journalism, Yates takes us through all the houses she has ever lived in. Recounting the memories she has had in these homes, relationships she has created and the struggles she has faced in finding a permanent home in the UK. Yates' homes act as a starting point for her to investigate the problems in the UK housing market, which at the moment, is basically everything. She discusses social housing, Grenfell, landlords, mould and the effects on our health - so much is covered but it never felt like too much. Sometimes, I do think the memoir and the investigative journalism could have been better blended for example, Yates speaks about doors which moves onto 'creating the perfect secure door' which somehow segues into surveillance and for me, it was difficult to connect all these things together. However, when it worked, it worked and the majority of the time it really did.

I loved hearing about Yates' life, I especially loved hearing about her mum. Although, I know this was not the point of this book, I would have loved to hear more about her mum and the relationship they created. We definitely got a feel for their relationship but I would've liked to know how creating a home differs when you are a mother, the pressure to create a home for others even when you do not want too. Maybe a potential idea for a sequel?

Overall, cannot recommend this book enough - everyone needs to read it.

[eeaagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing audiobook! Covers sooo much, I’ll recommend to anyone wanting to learn about the housing crisis in the UK. She talks about how moving has many meanings & acknowledges the traveling communities on many occasions. She mentioned that there is no research about the cultural benefits of growing up on estates in the UK. Exposes how pebble-dashing is often used in the exterior of buildings to conceal negligence. She spills the tea about how monsteras all got into our homes—obviously colonialism. As an immigrant in the UK, it was exciting to catch many of the references she threw out and hear many a shout-outs to my neighborhood of Walthamstow(William Morris). Talks about the extent of the damage mold does in the UK(bodies & buildings) and suggests mycologists should be on planning committees for developements. I really enjoyed hearing the author read the audiobook which I borrowed from my public library. She infused a lot of humor in places I would have missed if I were reading it, lol. I think the part of this book which has stayed with me the most is the stories of the people living in Meath Estate in South Acton. A really great journalist, I’m eager to follow along her journey and read whatever book she writes next.

Stand out quotes

“When we can’t return to our homes, all we have is nostalgia.”

“There is a disconnect between who causes air pollution and who breathes it in globally.”

“Psychologists put objects in our homes into two categories: personal objects & linking objects. These ‘linking objects’ are tangible ways of making our abstract memories real. To write the poetry of imaginary homelands into our living rooms.”

“There is no justification for the housing crisis, which is a direct result of the profit motives of capitalism being allowed to run rampant.”

[Fiona Powderly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and important insight of the current housing crisis and how housing is a class, race and gender issue plus so much more.

Incredibly informative and Yates laces her own, and at some points, heartbreaking experiences of a system that has let her and her family down so many times making this more than just investigative journalism. She covers a wide range of topics, from mould and damp (giving me flash backs of my own mould-ridden student house) to the problems with social housing to what actually makes a house a home

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A house can trick us into thinking that our domestic domain is all that matters, all that exists, that we can shut out the whole wood and all that remains is us.
But as a house is just a piece of the world that we are part of. We affect the physics of a place, the frequency of the streets - we change and are changed by then and often need to pay into them in meaningful ways to allow other bodies to lengthen, too."

[Mia Tiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so so good. I had no idea New Cross was going to have a protagonist role! Really powerful words, important and enjoyable.

[Micaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great reflection of the housing crisis in the UK. I enjoyed Kieran’s writing in how she paints a picture of the many shapes a home can take place in.

[Han Ziolek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried, I raged, I laughed out loud.
‘Home is an active word.’ ❤️

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant personal housing history and a cutting critique of our poor housing system !

[Treen · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting, incisive, honest discussion on the current state of housing policy in the UK, with the authors own experiences linking it together. I enjoyed the book and Tates’ writing but i would have liked to see more ideas for policy change/ solutions etc.

[Emily Hayman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yates presents a challenging, informative and uniquely personal account of the broken housing system to which we all play a part. Would thoroughly recommend

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evicted by Matthew Desmond is one of the best books I’ve read in recent years, and I’ve been looking for something that applies similar scrutiny and clarity to the various contributing factors to the housing crisis in the UK. This isn’t that book, unfortunately. It’s more memoir than anything else; the material is structured chronologically around personal anecdotes which I found makes it hard to follow, jumping around from one theme to another in rapid succession. There aren’t many examples of good practice or suggestions for solutions, which was something I really appreciated in Desmond’s book.

[Matt Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creative Access book club at Simon & Schuster office! The author Kieran Yates joined us for an interview and Q&A before our wider book club discussion!

An investigation in the housing crisis in the U.K. through the author’s own experiences moving and living in more than 30 properties over the U.K.. A mix of memoir and facts. The book is about the communities that she’s part of, as a child of working class immigrants. The act of moving - deciding which items she has to bring along or leave behind. Each items holds a special memory. The golden tissue box in every south East Asian households allow her to trace the history (the Mughal Empire, the colonialism links) and the cultural significance in different homes. Some frightening facts are pointed out: UK house prices rose by 197% between 2000 and 2020; the rent in London rose by about 70% in the past few years. Londoners on average spend two thirds of their income on rent. The creatives can contribute to the gentrification process: 'making the place more "cool" to upper-middle-class investors while also pricing out long-term locals, and then, inevitably, ending up being priced out themselves.' 'Good taste' is dominated by the upper class - saturated with ideas of class and power.

For Yates, writing this book is a form of therapy - revisiting the past houses she’s lived in, asking her family members and friends about the experiences living there, checking the facts with estate agents and by visiting archives. Because of the format of the book, the author chose to present her life stories that would relate to the majority on the housing issues.

Great to see a lot of fellow book club members resonated strongly with the experiences and stories in the book!