Government data reveals that more social housing units are being demolished the there are being built, acquired or converted.
New figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government show that in England there was a net loss of 3,834 homes for social rent in 2024/5, the latest data available.
No fewer than 16,291 social homes were either sold or demolished last year in England, yet just 10,807 social homes were built.
Over the past three years, figures show:
| 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | |
| Gains | 17,602 | 19,834 | 19,754 |
| Loss | -21,436 | -21,521 | -23,809 |
| Net change | -3,834 | -1,687 | -4,055 |
Responding to the figures, Matt Downie of homelessness charity Crisis says: “On taking office, the government promised to deliver a new generation of social homes.
“We back them to the hilt on this ambition but fear they are on course to fail unless urgent action is taken.
“The best evidence shows that we need 90,000 social homes delivered a year to turn the tide on rising homelessness – but we’re a far cry from that.
“In London, there have already been moves to reduce affordable housebuilding targets, which we worry will have a long-term impact on delivering social homes for generations to come.
“Government must go further and faster, bringing forward promised funding to boost the delivery of social homes and setting a national minimum target on large scale housing developments to focus minds.
“A ‘Britain Built For All’ must provide enough safe, secure homes for people on the lowest incomes.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today