Should the UK build enough social rented homes before allowing more private housebuilding?
England needs around 90,000 new social rent homes annually for the next decade yet delivered only 12,198 in 2024-25, leaving over 1.3 million households on waiting lists. The government launched a £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme in 2026 targeting at least 60% social rent and has begun allocating £9.58 billion for over 70,000 homes, while overall housing supply still falls short of the 300,000 homes per year required to hit national targets. Private developers contribute substantially to affordable housing through Section 106 agreements.
8 Opinions
We need both. More homes at all levels possible.
We definitely need more social housing. Other European cities do better because they have much more high-density housing which makes service provision easier. We should build blocks of council housing instead of blocks of student accommodation.
Could we encourage private builders to build for the councils? Perhaps selling the land they are sitting on to the councils, to build the houses on.? Just a thought or 2.
I created this poll. Currently too many people sit on waiting lists for social rented housing. The plight of people made homeless is chronic and the scale grows each year. Wages especially in the South East are not sufficient to cover large mortgages or massive PRS rental demands. Emergency housing costs are ballooning & there is insufficient local stock in many areas forcing homeless into substandard temporary accomodation outside of their local council area. Fix this first.
Where do people think affordable housing co-funding comes from? It heavily relies on Section 106 developer contributions on private schemes. Banning private building until social housing catches up completely nukes that revenue stream, bankrupts construction firms, and sends house prices into orbit.
You're just going to prioritise the freeloaders who are coming over here on dinghies.
No, UK should create possibility that every working citizen can afford own home. Social housing as every socialist solution is unfair, costly and at the end is not solving anything. Ownership is a way going forward.
Can't we just boost supply and encourage the building of both? Why penalise private builds during a housing crisis....