council housing stock
Lambeth Council is planning to increase its social rent housing, while questions are being raised about the accuracy of past delivery figures.
Lambeth Council is currently focused on increasing its social rent housing provision, with plans discussed by the Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee in July 2026. The council aims to shift away from relying on private sales for funding, prioritising the delivery of council homes or social homes with registered providers, as outlined by Councillor Pete Elliott, Cabinet Member for Housing. This strategy includes bringing empty homes back into use and developing on council-owned land.
However, the actual delivery of council homes in Lambeth has been questioned. In July 2026, Councillor Scott Ainslie raised concerns at a Cabinet meeting, citing an FOI request that indicated only four council houses were built between 2018 and January 2022. This contrasts with previous official figures stating 359 social rent homes were delivered since 2017, leading to ongoing scrutiny of housing delivery data.
Across other boroughs, councils are reviewing the management and financial aspects of their existing housing stock. In September 2026, Tower Hamlets' Housing Management (Cabinet) Sub-Committee reviewed performance, while Kensington and Chelsea's Audit & Transparency Committee noted weaknesses in housing safety standards. Camden and Waltham Forest committees also discussed Housing Revenue Account financial strategies in September and July 2026 respectively.
Key facts
- Lambeth Council's Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee discussed increasing social rent housing provision in July 2026. Source
- Councillor Pete Elliott stated Lambeth's priority is delivery of council homes or social homes with registered providers. Source
- In July 2026, Councillor Scott Ainslie questioned Lambeth's council home delivery figures at a Cabinet meeting. Source
- An FOI request indicated only four council houses were built in Lambeth between 2018 and January 2022. Source
- Previous figures stated 359 social rent homes were delivered in Lambeth since 2017. 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.