MHCLG announces £39bn social housing programme with new regulatory framework
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), led by Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner MP, and Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, has announced a £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme. The scheme aims to deliver roughly 300,000 new homes over ten years. It also introduces regulatory changes, including an updated Decent Homes Standard for private rentals, new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for social housing and a ten—year rent settlement starting in April 2026. A consultation on rent convergence measures will inform the Autumn Budget decision. This initiative forms a key element of the government’s broader Plan for Change, which aims to address the housing crisis and improve living standards, especially for the more than 165,000 children currently living in temporary accommodation.