More than six out of 10 people across England support more social housing being built in their area, according to a survey.

The Chartered Institute of Housing says 80% of those surveyed said social housing was important because it helps people on lower incomes find a home which would not be affordable in the private rented sector.

It says social housing should be ‘reclaimed as a central pillar of society alongside education and the NHS.’

The institute’s report, Rethinking social housing, says the right to buy scheme should be suspended to stem the loss of social rented homes.

It calls on landlords to review the way they communicate with tenants and set rents that are ‘genuinely affordable’ to people on lower incomes.

CIH chief executive, Terrie Alafat, said: ‘It’s clear there is a huge disparity between the support for social housing demonstrated in this report and the current level of investment.

‘And there is still a stigma attached to social housing as a product and the people who call it home.

‘We can only truly start to tackle the chronic shortage of affordable housing in this country by putting social housing at the centre of government plans to solve the housing crisis.’

Mark Whitehead (LGA)

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