A stark new analysis has revealed that families in some parts of England may have to wait more than a century for a suitably sized social home, with campaigners warning of a worsening crisis amid rising temporary accommodation costs and mounting child homelessness.
The findings, drawn from government figures and published by the National Housing Federation (NHF), Crisis and Shelter, show that in nine of the worst-affected council areas, it would take at least 67 years to house all families needing homes with three or more bedrooms, assuming no new households join the waiting list.
Most alarmingly, London boroughs are bearing the brunt of the crisis. Westminster tops the table with an estimated wait of 107.6 years, closely followed by Enfield (105.3 years) and Merton (102.4 years). The research is based on the current rate of permanent social housing lettings, highlighting how supply is failing to meet growing demand, especially for larger properties.
Outside of London, Mansfield (75.5 years), Slough (74.3), and Luton (42.1) face similarly daunting timelines, alongside Solihull (27.9) and Bolton (27.3).
The chronic undersupply of affordable housing has pushed local authorities to rely heavily on temporary accommodation, which campaigners warn is often substandard, overcrowded and unsafe. According to London Councils, boroughs in the capital are now collectively spending a staggering £4 million per day on temporary housing – a 68% increase in just one year.
London’s average waiting time for social housing stands at 27.6 years, the longest of any region. This is followed by the South West (8.1 years), the North West (7.1), and the South East (6.2). In contrast, the North East fares slightly better with an average of just 3.2 years.
Demand for larger social homes has soared over the past decade. Between 2014/15 and 2023/24, the number of households waiting for homes with three or more bedrooms rose by 36.6%, while the overall number of people on social housing waiting lists increased by only 5.9%.
Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the NHF, described the findings as a “national scandal”. She said: “The fact that families in so many parts of the country face waiting lists for an affordable home longer than their children’s entire childhood is a disgrace. These children deserve better than to grow up in cramped, poor-quality temporary accommodation without the privacy and stability every child needs.”
Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis, said the country was facing a generational problem: “It’s ludicrous that in some areas, the wait for a home exceeds average life expectancy. This should be a wake-up call. The Government must invest in building social housing at scale so we can ensure everyone has a safe and secure place to live.”
Shelter’s Director of Policy and Campaigns, Mairi MacRae, echoed these concerns, stressing the human cost of the crisis. “Childhoods are being lost to homelessness, and it’s costing the country billions,” she said. “We need to be building 90,000 social homes every year for a decade if we are serious about ending the housing emergency.”
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The analysis comes just weeks after a cross-party committee of MPs warned of the dangers posed by inadequate temporary housing. The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee found that more than one child per month is dying due to unsafe conditions in temporary accommodation. The Committee urged mandatory inspections and more stringent oversight.
In response, the Government has announced a £2 billion grant to deliver 18,000 new homes – half of which are expected to be social housing. Chancellor Rachel Reeves described the investment as a “down payment” ahead of a broader plan to increase affordable housing stock.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We recognise the severity of the social housing crisis and are taking urgent steps through our Plan for Change. This includes a historic investment in new housing, support for homelessness services, and reforms to protect the existing stock of social homes.”
But campaigners insist far more must be done. As thousands of families remain trapped in unsuitable housing, the call for sustained, large-scale investment in social housing is growing louder – and more urgent – than ever.
