Social housing
Councils are currently focused on increasing social housing supply and improving the allocation and management of existing homes amidst chronic shortages.
Hillingdon Council provided 510 social housing lettings in the past year, including 271 council homes, but faces challenges allocating larger properties due to chronic shortages, as stated by Councillor Nick Denys in September 2026. Haringey Council's Cabinet Member for Housing approved plans in September 2026 to build nine new four-bedroom council homes for social rent, costing £3,950,256. Hackney Council reported a 29% drop in homelessness prevention success in the first four months of 2026/27, discussed in September 2026.
Barnet Council's Finance and Growth Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee raised concerns in July 2026 over the housing mix in the Dollis Valley Estate Regeneration Scheme, which proposes 187 social rented homes. Also in July 2026, Barnet Council backed government plans to empower social housing landlords to evict domestic abuse perpetrators, allowing victims to remain in their homes. Islington Council decided in July 2026 to back a judicial review of the Mayor of London's emergency housing plans, citing concerns over their impact on social housing provision.
Lewisham Council committed £600 million in February 2026 to build new council homes over five years. Havering Council debated in January 2026 a business plan for Mercury Land Holdings, with officers concluding that focusing solely on social homes was not viable. Wandsworth Council decided in October 2025 to introduce an annual performance and audit report for housing associations, following the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2024.
Key facts
- Hillingdon Council provided 510 social housing lettings in the past year, with 271 council homes, as confirmed by Councillor Nick Denys in September 2026. Source
- Haringey Council's Cabinet Member for Housing approved plans in September 2026 to build nine new four-bedroom council homes for social rent at a cost of £3,950,256. Source
- Hackney Council reported a 29% drop in homelessness prevention success in the first four months of 2026/27 compared to the same period in 2025/26. Source
- Barnet Council's Finance and Growth Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee raised concerns in July 2026 over the proposed housing mix for 187 social rented homes in the Dollis Valley Estate Regeneration Scheme. Source
- Lewisham Council committed £600 million in February 2026 to build new council homes over the next five years. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.