Just before the Budget, there was a small but remarkable news item. Housing Today reported new figures from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) showing that in 2023/24 compared with the previous year, England had 696 more social rented homes. Although this is a tiny increase, it’s the first time since 2012 that the number hasn’t fallen. 

Back in 2012, councils and housing associations still owned 4.1 million homes let at social rents. But then grants for new build switched from social rents to higher, “affordable rents”, housing associations also began to convert existing lettings to affordable rents, and the government “revitalised” the right to buy, leading to a surge in sale