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Written by Emma Lunn

The window of Foxtons estate agent in Brixton was smashed on Saturday as trouble erupted at an initially peaceful process against gentrification in the area.

Lambeth Town hall was stormed and CS spray gas was used to deal with protesters at the police station.

The protest had been organised by “Reclaim Brixton” which campaigns against gentrification of the area. It says locals are being priced out of the housing market and smaller, individual businesses being driven out by high rents and big business.

A Facebook page for Saturday’s event said: “Brixton is widely known for its vibrancy, which is another word for social and cultural diversity. But Brixton's vibrancy now has a question mark on it. Will Brixton turn into a living museum or will it live?

“Earning less than £25,000? Or long-standing Afro-Caribbean resident? Maybe artist, musician? Shopkeeper? Librarian? Community worker? A teenage skater? A senior resident? A child who likes to play outside pens? Show the world your love for Brixton. The fight against gentrification starts here!!”

Initially a crowd of more than 1,000 people gathered in Windrush Square to wave placards and play music.

However, later in the afternoon Foxtons and Lambeth town hall both came under attack. One window was smashed at the estate agent and “yuppies out” sprayed on the other window.

Police officers arrested one person on suspicion of criminal damage.

Comments

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    I am sorry, Patra and Michaela, you are quite wrong, I would like to suggest.

    I first knew Brixton, from living there and working there from the early 1970s. There have been several factors at work, over the years. Early on from the 70s the arrival of the Victoria line tube began to change things, and various government and borough council "initiatives" added to that. Some of those initiatives came in response to the social unrest and riots, but few of those in authority seemed really to understand what was happening.

    The major destruction of older housing and replacement by modern estates (which, some of them, have had to be replaced, upgraded or improved not so long after their construction) have been other major factors.

    But the single most destructive thing, for Brixton, and for the national housing supply, has been the "right to buy". It was brought in as an electoral ploy, as Thatcher was in serious danger of losing an election, and her career would have been over. As it was, it became a huge vote-winner for her, and, of course, the election-winner, and no other party has dared to criticise or roll it back.

    But in future years, it will be remembered as one of the most destructive pieces of legislation for British society, brought in with a puff of rhetoric about the property-owning society. The distribution of wealth, including property lived in, and including all the social housing that was but is no longer socially owned, has become notoriously more unequal in the years since then.

    Investment by landlords in private housing can provide social housing of a different kind and meeting different needs from those met by public sector housing. If properly managed and accountable.

    What has been happening in Brixton in recent years is what has been happening elsewhere, with the "commoditisation" of housing, of short-term return on investment being effectively the only criterion of success for investors, big and small. People buying property to let, that is us, landlords, taking advantage of these developments, have been part of that.

    If political parties are unwilling, or unable in this globalised world to confront the real issues, and only make general comments about where we are going as a society, is it really surprising that frustration at "the lower depths" boils over. Foxtons, among others, know perfectly well what they are doing, and what the risks are. It may not be morally a "good thing" to break a window, or spray a slogan, and neither will change things, so it is just an ineffective cry of outrage. But are we as landlords so pompous and removed that we will only criticise and complain about ineffective politicians and economic forces greater than all of use, that we cannot see, let alone acknowledge, our part in these trends either.

    • 28 April 2015 12:00 PM
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    Well said Michaela!

    I used to live in Brixton 50 years ago - a lovely place but needs private investment to maintain the properties.

    If council properties were not sold off in the first place, all over London, there would be housing for those in need, provided by the State, not us, private landlords who are expected to do the State's work at our expense. Just how long is this situation likely to continue? I have started selling off some of my properties as I have had enough of these half-baked ideas which might become a reality.

    • 27 April 2015 13:53 PM
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    Give a big hand to our friends in the Labour party who point the finger for urban deprivation not at 10 years of economic mismanagement and failure to build new houses but at landlords and anyone else who makes a successful living.

    Let's not be distracted by the fact that Brixton was an utter dump and - in some places - a complete no-go area before investors moved in.

    Let's ignore the fact that millions of private money have been invested to bring crumbling housing stock up to date.

    Let's just demand cheaper rents in better houses because hey! We deserve to get something for nothing.

    Makes. Me. Sick.

    • 27 April 2015 09:59 AM
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