The Government is currently consulting on changes to social rents, which will allow the rent on some homes to increase gradually until they converge with their ‘target rent’. To help inform the discussion around rent increases The Housing Forum has published a briefing on social rents over the last ten years. This shows that:
- Social rents have fallen in real terms over the last ten years. Average rents in 2014 were £92.30 a week. If they had kept up with inflation, they would be £123.73, or if they’d kept up with earnings, they’d be £129.70. Instead, they’re £109.44.
- The proportion of income paid in rent by social renters has fallen from 29.2% to 26.4% since 2014-15.
- The proportion of social tenants who reported that they find it difficult to afford their housing costs fell from 41% in 2013/14 to 28% in 2023/24.
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