Happiness, Housing and the Law

Happiness is an enigmatic concept and there is no certain method or way of living that inevitably leads to happiness. Nevertheless, there is a constant search for happiness. It is the subject of much philosophical, political, psychological and social literature. The pursuit of happiness has also spawned a lucrative ‘happiness industry’ but whether happiness should be the goal (cf the outcome) of law is somewhat problematic.

This paper considers connections between happiness and the law of housing. In particular, it considers housing that is subject to strata law including strata by-laws and strata scheme redevelopments. It also references the Grenfell Tower fire in London’s North Kensington, observing that housing may become a flashpoint igniting and bringing to the fore multiple manifestations of unhappiness.