Requisitioning is not confiscation. It would be perfectly possible to pass a short bill that would authorise the government to carry out the requisition of empty property that was deemed suitable for these people.

The owners could seek to challenge the legality of this. I very much doubt if they would be successful. In the meantime the displaced survivors of this criminal fire would have a decent place to live, close to their network of support.

If Theresa May had a shred of political intelligence she would recognise picking up this proposal as an opportunity to salvage some of the credibility she has lost by her inadequate response to this tragedy.   In fact, even that, all it takes would be a handful of Tory MPs backing this, either because they are honourable in their way, or because they are on razor thin majorities, and such legislation could be passed.

There are some occasions when cutting through red tape is actually needed, and this is such an occasion.