Leaders Warn Of Worsening Social Housing Crisis

Social housing leaders believe the sector is in crisis and the situation is likely to get worse. Research from the Housing Leadership Foundation, which represents senior management in social housing, found 81 per cent of leaders think there is a crisis in social housing, and 97 per cent expect it to get worse over the next five years. The lack of decent, affordable housing was the biggest concern raised, and lack of funding was blamed for the gloomy outlook over the next five years. The survey also found a lack of confidence in the government’s reforms to the social housing sector. Asked how the introduction of direct payment of rent to tenants might affect social landlords, 87 per cent said it would ‘make the situation more difficult’. Fifty per cent said they strongly disagree with the social housing reforms, with a further 11.5 per cent saying they disagree slightly. Read more on Inside Housing.