UK’s Housing Crisis Deepens as 1.4 Million Homes Sit Unbuilt
February 17, 2025
Cornerstone Tax reveals that 19% of tenants have been forced to move five times in less than five years due to landlords exiting the market
David Hannah, Group Chairman of Cornerstone Tax, urges the government to focus on addressing the wider housing affordability crisis by incentivising landlords
The government’s plan to develop 12 new towns is set to rely significantly on corporate landlords to meet its ambitious housing targets, with build-to-rent homes expected to comprise up to a quarter of the total properties. Each new town will feature at least 10,000 homes, and the growing shift towards build-to-rent is driven by developers prioritising long-term rental income over high sale prices, which are increasingly constrained by buyer affordability.
As the build-to-rent sector sustains its growth, doubling in size since 2021 and reaching 110,000 completed units, this could offer a viable alternative to the traditional housing market, which continues to face significant challenges. However, as 1.4 million approved homes left unbuilt, David Hannah, Group Chairman of Cornerstone Tax, calls on the government to reconsider its housing reforms and provide serious incentives for landlords to remain in the market.
David highlights how a record number of landlords are leaving the rental market, contributing to serious issue of supply and demand within the UK. Cornerstone’s research reveals that 19% of tenants have had to change rental properties five times in less than five years through no fault of their own as landlords are forced to either exit the market or pass on these record high mortgage costs onto their tenants. Moreover, as demand continues to outstrip supply within the market, 17% of tenants have also admitted that they have lost out on a property that they wanted to rent in the last two years due to a bidding war.
David also emphasises that the UK government has missed key opportunities to tackle the country’s growing housing crisis. These include failing to reduce the second home surcharge to, decreasing stamp duty thresholds, and not reinstating Multiple Dwellings Relief. Exclusive data from Cornerstone Tax further underscores the impact of these stamp duty reforms, revealing that 26% of Brits already aren’t unable to purchase property due to unaffordable stamp duty costs. Meanwhile, 15% of landlords are considering selling due to rising expenses, and 18% of prospective buy-to-let investors have been deterred by increasingly complex regulations.
Group Chairman of Cornerstone Tax, David Hannah comments:
“This year, the government must urgently recognise the ever-pressing need for drastic changes to the housing market. The previous government’s decision to abolish Multiple Dwellings Relief (MDR) was beyond counterproductive and will result in fewer new homes being built, with a significant drop in both domestic and overseas investment into housing delivery.
“By removing a critical tax break such as MDR and failing to incentivise landlords who are fleeing the market, the government’s refusal to reverse these policies undermines the build-to-rent sector, which relies heavily on such incentives to maintain and expand the housing supply. Furthermore, the increase in the second home surcharge and Stamp Duty thresholds reforms will not only reduce the stock of homes in the UK, but will make it harder for first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder.
“New policies need to promote affordability, accessibility and support for businesses building in Britain. The government must now listen to property firms and industry stakeholders to solve this vitally discouraging situation for Brits, otherwise this crisis will continue to cause chaos for years to come.”
You May Also Enjoy
Breaking Property News 16/7/26
Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X. The Housing Market Does Not Need Saving: It Needs De-Risking Thought leadership by Olivier Jauniaux, Founder of NestLink “Everything starts with a good home,” Andy Burnham told a hall full of highly hopeful supporters at the People’s History Museum in Manchester in June 2026, in the…
Read More 
Why the postcode can make a big difference to your rebuild costs
93% of UK properties are insured for the wrong amount, according to research by RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com. The regional breakdown behind this figure shows why location still matters when calculating rebuild values. National figures demonstrate the scale of the issue and regional data helps show where inaccurate sums insured are more common. “Two similar properties in different…
Read More 
New record rents as rental supply falls for first time since 2022
The average advertised rent of homes outside London has risen by 1.9% this quarter to a new record of £1,397 per calendar month, the first quarterly rent record since Q3 2025: The average advertised rents outside London is now 2.3% higher than a year ago, an increase from 1.6% last quarter London also reaches a…
Read More 
Our predictions for the property market in the second half of 2026
Allison Thompson, Chief Lettings Officer, Leaders part of LRG. There is a lot going on right now that’s impacting the property market, both in terms of direct legislation and the wider economy: Global conflicts affecting consumer confidence and interest rates Ongoing cost of living issues challenging affordability for homeowners and renters The recent introduction of…
Read More
Breaking Property News 14/7/26
Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X. REVIEW: The Future of Real Estate Education: From Pedagogy to Technology Author Mr. Hugh Kelly, Ph.D., CRE Emeritus Edited by Karen M. McGrath, Elaine M. Worzala, and Pernille H. Christensen. (Routledge, New York and London, 2026). 330 pp. ISBN 9781032625041. Paperback $70.99; hardcover $170.00; ebook…
Read More 
Why 2026 is redefining responsibility in the private rented sector
The landlord rulebook has changed Insurance experts warn that understanding where landlord obligations end and tenant responsibilities begin has never been more important, following the biggest legislative shake-up of the rental market in a generation. The implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act on 1st May 2026 has transformed the relationship between landlords and tenants, introducing…
Read More