Social housing: A Crisis for the most vulnerable

The lack of social housing hits vulnerable groups the hardest, especially newly recognised refugees. This can lead to destitution for those without support and RMC works with this group directly to provide help.

Written by: Saqib

England is currently experiencing a national housing emergency. As of December 2024, 127,890 households were living in temporary accommodation, a 13.6 percent increase compared to the previous year, among these are 165,510 children. A key driver of this crisis is the chronic undersupply of social housing. Despite 1.29 million households on social housing waiting lists, only 11,400 new social homes were made available for renting in 2023, while 23,100 were lost through sales or demolition. Over the last decade, 177,487 social homes have been lost across the UK.

The lack of social housing hits vulnerable groups hardest, especially newly recognised refugees. They must leave their asylum accommodation within 28 days (currently 56 in a trial) after getting status. In that time, they have to apply for welfare support, but the first payment usually takes 5 weeks. This gap means their asylum support ends before new help starts, making it nearly impossible to rent privately and often leading to homelessness. In early 2024, 4,840 refugee households were recorded as homeless in England, a 348 percent rise from the same period in 2023. Government studies note the combination of the short move-on time, long council waiting lists, and difficulty renting privately makes the transition “very challenging” and “leads to destitution”.

What is Social Housing and Why Does it Matter?

Social housing, offers affordable homes with rents tied to local incomes. “Social rent” properties are more accessible for those on low or modest incomes. The average social rent in England is just £89 per week, compared to £196 in the private rented sector, less than half the cost.

Social housing helps people build lives: it provides stability, security, and a sense of belonging. Because it’s managed by councils and not-for-profit housing associations, rent income is reinvested into maintaining homes and building more properties, making it a cost-effective solution that strengthens communities.

The decline in social housing began decades ago, when policies shifted away from building homes for the public good. In the 1980s, the Right to Buy scheme led to the sale of millions of council homes, but few were replaced. Over time, underinvestment, sell-offs, and demolitions have deepened the shortage, eroding the social housing system. Today, the consequences are clear: a growing number of people, many of whom are ready to contribute to their communities, are left without a secure and stable place to call home.

Private Renting is Not the Answer

The idea that private renting can properly meet housing needs is becoming less believable. In the year ending December 2024, average private rents in the UK rose by 9%, with London experiencing a record increase of 11.6% . This surge significantly outweighs wage growth. In the three months to April 2025, real-terms wage growth was a mere 2.1%.

Such disparities place a considerable strain on private renters, particularly those from refugee and migrant backgrounds. A report by the Office for National Statistics shows that 71% of low-income private renters spend over 30% of their income on rent, which signals financial strain. For refugees and migrants, these financial pressures are magnified by additional barriers like language and unfamiliarity with the system. A study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation highlights a growing disconnect between local housing allowance rates and actual market rents, leaving low-income households, including many refugees and migrants, struggling to afford private rents.

RMC's work

At RMC, we work directly with refugees and migrants facing high risk of homelessness due to the current housing crisis. Our Housing Advisors provide tailored advice to help people understand their housing rights and navigate a complex, under-resourced system. To assist with this journey, we offer:

One-to-one housing advice on eligibility for social housing, local authority duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act, and how to apply for support.
Advocacy with local authorities to ensure beneficiaries are not turned away unlawfully and are assessed fairly for housing assistance.
Prevention work, educating beneficiaries about housing options early in their asylum journey so they can prepare for move-on as early as possible.
Referrals to supported housing and signposting for private rentals where appropriate, especially when social housing is unavailable.

We also work in partnership with local authorities and voluntary sector partners to coordinate support, highlight systemic barriers, and push for policy change. Our frontline experience gives us a clear view of the gaps in the housing system and the urgent need for long-term solutions.

Recommendations

To improve housing for vulnerable groups the government must invest in affordable social rent homes which means:

Rebalancing the Affordable Homes Programme to prioritise social rent.
Setting and meeting targets of 90,000 new social homes annually.
Protecting existing social housing stock from demolition or sale.

As these challenges persist, the call for increased investment in social housing is more pressing than ever. Charities, businesses, and trade unions are advocating for the construction of 90,000 new social rented homes annually, aiming to alleviate the housing emergency and provide sustainable, affordable options for refugees, migrants, and low-income households.