Social Rented Housing: Overcrowding

(asked on 2nd December 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies on social housing of the finding by Shelter on increases in the number of people living in overcrowded conditions in social housing in the last five years, published on 28 July 2021.


Answered by
Eddie Hughes Portrait
Eddie Hughes
This question was answered on 10th December 2021

By law, local authorities must ensure that overcrowded households in social housing who are seeking a transfer are given 'reasonable preference' (overall priority). Statutory guidance encourages local authorities to consider giving 'additional preference' (high priority') to families in severe overcrowding which poses a serious health hazard. The social housing waiting list in England has decreased by 37 per cent since 2012.

Our £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme will deliver up to 180,000 affordable homes, should economic conditions allow. The provision of affordable housing is a key element of the Government's plan to end the housing crisis and tackle over-crowding.

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