"Iains was discussing the legal aspect, not denigrating the victims, "
It is denigrating the victims to suggest that it is more important to suggest that a right to a roof over their head is less important than protecting the rights of property owners who wish to leave their propert empty - property before people in extreme trouble
How denigraing is that
"One of the examples of the blocks of property vacant given belongs to the Algerian Embassy "
A total red herring
London is full of empty properties that have been that way for years for investment puposes.
Property investment on empty buildings has been one of the major money spinners in the capital for decades
One of the monuments of that 'industry' was Centrepoint, a massive high-rise office block on Charring Cross road - left empty for a decade for investment purposes
Throughout the 1973 oil crisis the owners were allowed to avoid fuel rationing to allow them to heat this empty monstrosity because, if they not beeen allowed to it would have fallen down.
JIm Carroll