More than a quarter of a million social housing homes have been lost in England in the last ten years, analysis of government statistics has found.
Between April 2013 and April 2023, there was a net loss of more than 260,000 social homes owned by local authorities and housing associations, according to homelessness charity Shelter.
As social housing is sold off, converted or demolished faster than it is built, a ‘staggering’ 1.3 million households are stuck on social housing waiting lists, the charity warned.
Its chief executive, Polly Neate, said: ‘Without enough social housing, every other area in the housing system bottlenecks.
‘As a result, the country is hitting one shameful record after the next with 145,800 children homeless in temporary accommodation, the highest number ever, private rents at record highs and rising evictions.’
She urged all political parties to commit to building 90,000 ‘genuinely affordable’ social homes a year over ten years, arguing that it was the only way to end the housing emergency for good.
