Issue

Housing Crisis

10 stories · discussed at 3 council meetings · 8 councils

Councils are focusing on increasing housing supply, improving management, and addressing affordability to tackle the ongoing housing crisis.

Islington Council is exploring restoring housing allocation for key workers in October 2026, while Southwark Council's housing department was rated as having 'serious failings' by the Regulator of Social Housing in September 2026. Haringey Council's Cabinet approved a new contract in July 2026 to speed up repairs to council homes and return empty properties to occupation.

Lambeth Council is set to increase social rent housing and approved major projects in July and March 2026, aiming for 10,000 new homes over a decade. Enfield Council unveiled a 10-year plan for affordable homes in March 2026. Lewisham Council's Sustainable Development Committee will link sustainability to housing, including social housing decarbonisation, in July 2026. Lewisham's Mayor and Cabinet are scheduled to meet on 7 October 2026, with this topic on the agenda.

The housing crisis is a situation where the demand for housing significantly outstrips supply, leading to unaffordability and limited availability, impacting community stability and public services. Hackney Council debated a motion calling for rent controls in November 2025.

Key facts

  1. Islington Council is exploring restoring housing allocation for key workers in October 2026. Source
  2. Southwark Council's housing department was rated as having 'serious failings' by the Regulator of Social Housing in September 2026. Source
  3. Haringey Council's Cabinet approved a new contract in July 2026 to speed up repairs to council homes. Source
  4. Lambeth Council aims to deliver at least 10,000 new homes over the next decade. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
  5. Enfield Council unveiled a 10-year plan for affordable homes in March 2026. 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 3 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Latest stories

  1. Islington Council explores restoring key worker housing amid significant housing crisis Islington Council is exploring options to provide housing for key workers in the borough as part of a wider review of its housing allocations. The feasibility of restoring... Islington 3 October 2026
  2. Southwark Council's Housing Department Faces 'Serious Failings' Scrutiny Southwark Council's housing department has been rated as having serious failings by the Regulator of Social Housing, according to documents from a recent Council Assembly... Southwark 27 September 2026
  3. Haringey Council Approves New Contract to Expedite Council Home Repairs Haringey Council's Cabinet has approved a new contract aimed at speeding up repairs to council homes. Haringey 18 July 2026
  4. Lewisham Council's Sustainable Development Committee to Focus on Climate and Ecological Crisis Lewisham Council's Sustainable Development Committee will focus its efforts on the climate and ecological crisis, with a work programme for 2026-27 that explicitly links... Lewisham 17 July 2026
  5. Lambeth Council to Increase Social Rent Housing Lambeth Council is set to significantly increase its provision of social rent housing as part of a broader strategy to tackle the borough's housing crisis. The Housing Scrutiny... Lambeth 17 July 2026
  6. Major Lambeth Housing Projects Get Green Light Lambeth Council's Cabinet has approved a series of major housing projects, reinforcing its commitment to delivering at least 10,000 new homes over the next decade as part of its... Lambeth 25 March 2026
  7. Lambeth Aims for 10,000 New Homes, Focus on Social Rent Lambeth Council has set an ambitious target to deliver at least 10,000 new homes over the next decade, with a significant focus on increasing the supply of social rent... Lambeth 25 March 2026
  8. Lambeth Council Reaffirms 10,000 New Homes Target with 40% Affordable Homes Goal Lambeth Council has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering at least 10,000 new homes over the next decade, with a significant focus on ensuring 40% of these are genuinely... Lambeth 25 March 2026