With social housing availability declining, this is causing increasing demand and financial pressures on social housing landlords who are struggling to meet the needs of tenants who are desperate to find somewhere to live.
It leaves social housing landlords in a difficult position as they try to meet the ongoing needs of their tenants while trying to find their next property investment.
As the situation does not seem set to improve anytime soon, we want to help you understand how to manage your legal rights and responsibilities in the face of tighter economic constraints.
A recent report highlighted declining social housing availability
As tighter legislation pushes a greater need for maintenance and compliance onto social housing landlords, the lack of additional properties could potentially see a lack of funds needed to meet obligations.
A report from the thinktank Common Wealth suggests England will sell off more than eight times as many council homes in 2025/26 than what was constructed in the previous year.
The increased sales of social housing properties are being linked to the Right to Buy scheme, which is affecting council housing stock at a quicker rate than public housing can replace it.
Without the ability to invest in new properties, social housing landlords may struggle to mitigate the impact of rising operational costs without increasing rents for existing tenants.
It’s a concerning trend with more properties being sold than built. In 2023/24, 38,170 social homes and 2,850 council homes were built, but 13,966 council homes were sold through the Right to Buy scheme.
This trend continued in the next year’s figures, as during 2024/25, 2,260 council homes were built, but through the Right to Buy scheme, 8,656 council homes were sold.
It is predicted that the number of council houses sold in 2025/26 will surpass 18,500, eight times the number built in the previous year.
What can social housing landlords do?
One solution for social housing landlords is to try and find available properties that allow them to offer a home to tenants and reduce the demand.
The best approach is to outline exactly what you are looking for. The type of property, the area and the facilities, such as parking and local amenities.
You should also consider any renovation costs to meet regulatory obligations such as Awaab’s Law, getting an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and ensuring the property is safe for a tenant to live in.
In addition to this, we will help you to monitor any Government changes. In November 2024, the Government opened an eight-week consultation period which it announced its intentions to reform Right to Buy to protect the future of social housing.
This was after the Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in the 2024 Autumn Budget that the maximum Right to Buy cash discounts would be reduced.
In July 2025, the Government published their report following the consultation and reaffirmed their commitment to helping families and outlined what they would like to introduce, which included increasing the eligibility requirement for an individual to buy their council house from three years to ten years.
While nothing is set in stone, at this stage, the continued discussions around legislation changes are certainly something you need to keep an eye on, especially with the 2025 Autumn Budget coming next month, where Rachel Reeves could make further changes and clarify the Government’s plans.
Need support with your next opportunity?
If you have found that next property, our expert team can help you ensure the property is up to standard when you are ready to welcome new tenants.
We will advise you on what you need to do to meet your legal obligations and ensure your tenants are living in a comfortable and safe environment.
If you are struggling with the pressure of recent legislative changes, we will provide support so that your legal responsibilities can be met.
Our team is here for you, supporting you every step of the way to ensure your house is ready and you can begin to earn a return on your investments.
For support with your property, get in touch with us.
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The content of this article is for general information only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. If you require any further information in relation to this article please contact the author in the first instance. Law covered as at October 2025.