Lack of affordable housing delivery is the smoking gun behind the UK housing crisis, latest ONS data shows

The latest data released by the ONS on the supply of affordable housing across the UK shows that: –

Supply: 

  • There were 60,000 affordable homes supplied (built, bought or rehabilitated) between April 2017 and March 2018, with the best available data suggesting Scotland comparatively supplied the most affordable homes per person (approx. 16 homes per 10,000 people).

 

  • England has seen a larger change than other countries in the types of affordable homes being delivered – there has been a shift from social rent to other sub-market rent homes.

 

  • Variability in the number of affordable homes delivered over the last 10 years. Across the UK there has been an average of 62,400 affordable homes delivered annually, with a high of 78,800 between April 2014 and March 2015, and a low of 43,500 between April 2015 and March 2016.

 

  • Differences in the average number of affordable homes delivered each year between April 2008 to March 2018. England (50,800) shows a slight decrease in the long term. Wales (2,400) shows no major change. Meanwhile, Scotland (7,100) and Northern Ireland (2,200) show increases in long term trends.

 

  • March 2018 – affordable homes delivered per head of population (per 10,000 people);
  • England = 8.5
  • Wales = 7.4
  • Scotland = 15.8
  • Northern Ireland = 12.3

 

  • Affordable homes built, bought, or rehabilitated (April 2017 to March 2018);
  • England = 47,100 [78.1%]
  • Wales = 2,300 [3.8%]
  • Scotland = 8,600 [14.3%]
  • Northern Ireland = 2,300 [3.8%]
  • UK = 60,300

 

Stock:

  • As of April 2018 there were about 5 million homes in the social housing sector across the UK, representing about a sixth of all properties, and this proportion has been stable over the past 10 years.

 

  • Scotland had the highest proportion of homes in the social sector in 2018 (22% of homes).

Please find below comment from Marc von Grundherr, director of lettings and estate agent, Beham and Reeves.

Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, commented: 

“If you’re looking for the smoking gun behind the UK’s housing crisis, look no further than the hugely inadequate levels of affordable housing being delivered to the sector. Just 60,000 homes delivered in a year and no change in the level of social housing in a decade is pitiful, to say the least, and suggests that the Government has given up trying altogether.

Affordability is an issue not just in the London market but nationwide, and an issue that is largely exacerbated by a failure to build more homes at all levels to keep pace with a growing population and an increase in buyer demand. If we’re going to alleviate some of the strain on the market we must build more and this, in turn, will help boost affordability.”

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove’s Weekly Mortgage Tracker – 18/09/25

Average rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Average rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 4.54% +0.02% -0.44% 5-year fixed 4.56% +0.01% -0.05%   Lowest rates for 2-year and 5-year fixed-rate mortgages   Term Lowest rate Weekly change Yearly change 2-year fixed 3.75% +0.00% -0.24% 5-year fixed 3.89% +0.00% +0.12%   Average…
Read More
Planning disputes on new build land
Estate Agent Talk

Slowdown in planning applications and decisions

Property lawyer says “The government have had a year to make improvements to house building and have not made any progress.” Housing Secretary Steve Reed has announced a “building acceleration package” to speed up house building in England after new figures revealed a slowdown in planning applications and decisions. David Smith, property litigation partner at…
Read More
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England’s holds interest rates at 4%

With the Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates at 4%, here are some thoughts from the Industry.   Matt Smith, Rightmove’s mortgage expert: “A Base Rate hold today had looked fairly nailed on, especially after yesterday’s news that inflation remains stuck at 3.8%. The later-than-usual Budget is very much on the horizon, and…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 18/09/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Exodus of Landlords – means lower supply and increased rents’ MPs have taken the Renters’ Rights Bill a major step closer to Royal Assent, confirming the scrapping of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions and the end of fixed-term tenancies, which will now convert into open-ended…
Read More
Breaking News

Energy Rules Without Power: Tenants and Landlords Both Question EPC Impact

New research from LRG reveals that both landlords and tenants are struggling to engage with the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) system, raising serious questions about whether it can deliver on its intended goals ahead of the government’s 2030 targets. While landlords overwhelmingly support the principle of improving energy efficiency, confidence in the system designed to…
Read More
New Builds 2020
Breaking News

New Build Home Enquiries Double in Summer 2025 

From June to August 2025, Compare My Move’s conveyancing data shows a 120% increase in new build home purchase enquiries compared to the same period in 2024.  This surge reflects not only more people looking to buy homes overall but also a higher share of buyers choosing new builds. On average, 12% of purchase enquiries in…
Read More