Fairness Beats ‘Birthright’ In Social Housing Allocation, Says New Poll

Community links are more important than where you were born when allocating social housing, according to a new YouGov poll commissioned by housing provider Metropolitan. The survey revealed most people believe fairness and community participation, not nationality, should influence decisions on social housing.  The findings have been released in the wake of Labour MP Frank Field’s call for the social housing system to award priority to British taxpayers, after figures showed nearly half of tenants in some parts of London were foreign nationals.  The poll suggests the public do not share Mr Field’s views. Two thirds of people questioned said birthplace should not hinder someone’s chance of qualifying for social housing, and only 22 per cent of the 1939 respondents said someone born outside of the UK should be lower down the priority list.  Read more on the Metropolitan website.