British housing stock in crisis

WITH four boom and bust cycles over the past 40 years, a growing population, particularly in London, and the state withdrawing almost altogether from building social housing — the sector is in crisis in Britain.

Over the past 20 years, the numbers owning their own homes has dropped significantly to 64%, rental social housing has dropped from 30% to 18% of the housing stock and the number renting from private landlords has doubled.

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s research, young people and especially those with young families on low incomes or who need support, are particularly badly affected. Over the next five years, the number of house owners under 30 will halve, meaning an extra 1.5m will be competing for private rentals.