Overcoming the stigma of social housing: can social housing rebuild its reputation?

Using census data and the latest English Housing Survey data, this report summarises the general composition of social housing, who lives in it, their social and economic backgrounds and examines the trend towards greater residualisation over time. This will build on the work of John Hills’ review of social housing which covered much of the evidence up to 2007 – “End and Means”1 . This report sets out the growth of social housing in England as a major tenure designed to meet the needs of a wide range of lower income households. It grew rapidly in response to the extreme housing needs post 1945 due to war damage and continuing slum conditions in many cities. The image and popularity of the tenure changed from the late 1960s, due to increasing and alarming evidence of poor construction and management, as well as crime and poverty concentrated in social housing estates. Subsequent changes in housing homelessness and race relations legislation led to more frequent lettings to households in higher housing need with more vulnerabilities. From 1980, Right to Buy sales and the “rolling back of the state” both reduced the amount of more desirable properties that were available and increased the stigma attached to being a social housing tenant. Today, changes in housing management, with more specialist and community oriented housing associations, and major upgrading through programmes like the Decent Homes programme and energy efficiency improvements have considerably improved conditions. A majority of current and longstanding tenants remain proud to live in what is now a modern, well run and maintained sector which performs a key role in meeting housing need.