i use my eyes and ears, also listen to what friends say, those in the know. i also keep an eye on the local papers, they give you details of property that are up for sale, council stock, not private, there it is in black and white. I also walk or travel past many council estates, some completely boarded up, some should be condemned, or never have been built in the first place, but that is down to the stupid planners, architects who think that you can shove people in these weeny boxes and expect them to be grateful. One estate i mentioned before and some know it, like New Judge, is the Heygate, the most appalling estate on the planet, from what he said they are planning on pulling it down, good. But let's not forget that more private property is going up, more and more, in any little corner of our city, not to mention endless office blocks. The council could be putting up homes. either build new homes for social housing tenants or do up the ones they have on their books, i know which i would do first.