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Available for over a year

Lynsey Hanley tells the cautionary tale of Howard and Margaret, who are leaseholders of a handsome Georgian style property in central Newcastle. Every home has a story to tell about Britain's housing crisis. Howard and Margaret have fallen foul of England's leasehold laws and now describe their seemingly desirable home as a 'gilded cage'. Lynsey explores the leasehold system and finds out just how contentious land ownership in this country can be. House historian Melanie Backe-Hansen looks at the history of St Thomas Street and Professor Paul Cheshire puts the story in context. Producer: Laurence Grissell