Issue

Housing crisis

9 stories · discussed at 3 council meetings · 7 councils

Councils are tackling housing supply and management, with Southwark's department recently rated for serious failings.

Southwark Council's housing department was rated as having 'serious failings' by the Regulator of Social Housing in September 2026, concerning its management of a waiting list of 23,000 households. In July 2026, Haringey Council's Cabinet approved a new contract to speed up repairs to council homes, aiming to reduce pressure on homelessness and return empty properties to use more quickly.

Lambeth Council's Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee discussed plans in July 2026 to increase social rent housing by bringing empty homes back into use and developing on council land. This follows the Cabinet's approval in March 2026 of projects to deliver at least 10,000 new homes over the next decade, with a focus on social rent. Enfield Council's Cabinet also approved a 10-year plan in March 2026 to deliver affordable homes.

Lewisham Council's Sustainable Development Committee linked sustainability to housing in July 2026, including social housing decarbonisation. The Mayor and Cabinet of Lewisham Council are scheduled to discuss this topic further in October 2026.

Key facts

  1. Southwark Council's housing department was rated as having 'serious failings' by the Regulator of Social Housing in September 2026. Source
  2. Southwark Council's social housing waiting list includes 23,000 households as of 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, with a focus on social rent. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
  5. Lambeth Council has over 28,000 households on its housing waiting list as of March 2026. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
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.

Latest stories

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. Enfield Council unveils 10-year housing plan Enfield Council has unveiled a comprehensive 10-year plan aimed at delivering thousands of new affordable homes and transforming neighbourhoods across the borough. Enfield 1 March 2026