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Just 2.5% of homes in 2016/17 for social rent
The last financial year saw the lowest percentage of social housing delivered since “net additions” records began in 2001, despite a sharp rise in overall housebuilding.
Figures released last week showed 217,000 homes were added to England’s housing stock in 2016/17, the highest since the recession and a year-on-year rise of 15%.
But when compared with affordable housing additions figures, released earlier this month, they reveal just 2.48% of the homes delivered in 2016/17 were for social rent.
This is down one percentage point from 3.59% in the previous year. Every year since 2010/11 has seen a record low percentage of social housing delivered.
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Overall, affordable housing accounted for just 19.11% in 2016/17. This is a slight increase from the 2015/16 figure of 17.21%, but is still the second-lowest percentage ever recorded. Until last year, the figure had never previously slipped below 20% and had remained above 30% since the financial crisis.
Terrie Alafat, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: “Social rent is the only truly affordable option for many people on lower incomes. Our forecasts show that almost 250,000 homes for social rent could be lost between 2012 and 2020.
“Our analysis shows 80% of the government’s housing budget to 2020/21 is targeted at the private market, with just 20% going to affordable homes. This week’s Budget is a chance for the government to build on the steps it has already taken to boost the number of new homes for genuinely affordable rents.”
Tristan Carlyon, senior research manager at the National Housing Federation, added: “It is not surprising to see so little social rent delivered in 2016/17 given that no funding was available for this type of tenure until recently. The additional £2bn announced by Theresa May in October shows a real commitment to reverse this trend.”
Update: at 9.18am on 22.11.17 A DCLG spokesman said: “We’re determined to build a Britain that is fit for the future, with the homes our country needs. Since 2010 we’ve delivered 1.1 million additional homes, including over 346,000 affordable properties.
“The number of new homes being delivered each year has been increasing since 2010, but there is still more to do. That’s why the prime minister last month announced an extra £2bn funding for affordable housing, increasing the affordable homes programme budget to over £9bn.”
