I quite agre, Sir Albion, the political will isn't there to take on multi-nationals, hedge funds, or people investing in propert to the detriment of actual citizens of this country.
I think you are being a little obtuse with the popping to Waitrose comments, a lot of property in London is keot empty by large investment firms, no one actually lives in them, they are solely for the harvesting of profit. These are the properties that coukd be requisitioned for the short term...
Funny though how the Government can do things quickly and efficiently if it really puts its mind to it, oh and if its politically expedient, ie, the Falklands war,anti rave laws in the Eighties,a replacement for the Poll tax.