Housing Crisis
Councils are currently addressing housing supply, quality, and affordability, with Islington exploring key worker housing and Southwark's housing department facing scrutiny.
Islington Council is exploring restoring housing allocation for key workers, acknowledging the significant housing crisis and high demand on its housing register, as of October 2026. In September 2026, Southwark Council's housing department was rated as having "serious failings" by the Regulator of Social Housing, with 23,000 households on its social housing waiting list. Haringey Council's Cabinet approved a new contract in July 2026 to speed up repairs to council homes and reduce the time empty properties are out of use.
Lambeth Council is increasing its social rent housing provision, bringing empty homes back into use and developing on council-owned land, as discussed by its Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee in July 2026. This follows the council's Cabinet approval in March 2026 of major housing projects, reaffirming its target to deliver at least 10,000 new homes over the next decade, with a focus on social rent and 40% affordable homes. Enfield Council also unveiled a 10-year housing plan in March 2026 to deliver new affordable homes.
Lewisham Council's Sustainable Development Committee will include social housing decarbonisation in its work programme for 2026-27, linking sustainability to housing. The housing crisis is characterised by a severe shortage of affordable and suitable housing, leading to issues such as homelessness and long waiting lists for council homes, with Lambeth Council reporting 28,000 households on its waiting list and 4,400 in temporary accommodation in March 2026.
Key facts
- Islington Council is exploring restoring housing allocation for key workers. Source
- Southwark Council's housing department was rated as having "serious failings" by the Regulator of Social Housing. Source
- Haringey Council's Cabinet approved a new contract to speed up repairs to council homes. Source
- Lambeth Council plans to significantly increase its provision of social rent housing. Source
- Lambeth Council aims to deliver at least 10,000 new homes over the next decade. 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 8 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.