Government Announces Ambitious Social Rent Revolution and £39 Billion Affordable Homes Programme
The UK Government today unveiled groundbreaking plans to deliver approximately 300,000 new social and affordable homes nationwide, with at least 60% allocated for social rent, marking a transformative social rent revolution. This includes a dedicated focus on Wales as part of the comprehensive £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme — the largest investment in social housing in a generation.
The government’s long-term strategy, delivering a Decade of Renewal for Social and Affordable Housing, aims to tackle the housing crisis head-on by significantly boosting social housebuilding, improving housing safety, and raising quality standards across England, Wales, and the wider UK.
Major national media outlets, including The Independent, Sky News, and The Daily Mirror, have highlighted the government’s target to build around 180,000 social rent homes—six times more than the total built in the previous decade. Leading housing sector publications such as Inside Housing, Housing Today, and Property Week have also covered the ambitious plans.
A key element of the strategy is the introduction of a new Decent Homes Standard, designed to ensure millions of renters in both the social and private rented sectors live in safe, secure, and high-quality homes. Tenants will gain greater access to information about their landlords, alongside enhanced requirements for housing management to deliver improved services.
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said:
“We are seizing this golden opportunity to transform housing across the country, including Wales, by delivering the social and affordable homes families need. This social rent revolution is about ending temporary accommodation reliance and helping young people access secure, affordable homes. With this investment and reform, we are unleashing the biggest boost to social housing in a generation and starting a decade of renewal. I call on everyone in the social housing sector to join us in making this vision a reality.”
This announcement follows a clear government commitment to reform, investment, and partnership with the housing sector, underpinning a bold plan for change that will improve living standards and address the worst housing crisis in living memory.
