Response to government consultation on rent policy
23 December 2024
A stable rent policy that supports housing associations to borrow and invest in new and existing homes is a fundamental pre-requisite if the sector is to continue to build and provide good quality
social housing at the scale required.
We welcomed the opportunity to share our views on the proposed rent policy to be introduced on 1 April 2026. Our response was informed by conversations with, and input from, our housing association members.
In our response we said we share the government’s ambition to build 1.5 million new homes over this Parliament, and to significantly increase the supply of social and affordable homes and agree that everyone has the right to live in safe, decent housing.
A stable rent policy that supports housing associations to borrow and invest in new and existing homes is a fundamental pre-requisite if the sector is to continue to build and provide good quality social housing at the scale required. We are pleased this government has recognised the challenges and contribution of housing associations in bringing forward these proposals and strongly support a long-term rent settlement linked to inflation.
In our response we also set out a case for reintroducing rent convergence, with case studies from Greatwell Homes, Worthing Homes and Aspire Housing, setting out the positive impact this could have on their communities.
We welcome the acknowledgement in the consultation that the delivery of the government’s objectives on housing depend not just on the rent settlement, but on future levels of government investment, including grant levels for social housing and additional funding where there are new expectations on the sector, for example through a new Decent Homes Standard.
We look forward to working with the government to ensure the sector has the support it needs to contribute as fully as possible to ending the housing crisis and ensuring everyone in this country has a warm, safe, decent, affordable place to live.