Tories promise to ban foreign nationals from social housing
Key Points
- The Conservative Party has promised to ban foreign nationals from social housing if they win power.
- The party said it would end the provision of social housing for foreign nationals, ending the tenancies of those without UK, Irish, or EU citizenship.
- It said on social media that "Britain cannot be a cash machine for the whole world".
The Conservative Party has vowed that if it is elected, it will ban foreign nationals from social housing tenancies.
The party said it would end the provision of social housing for foreign nationals in England, stating on X that “our council houses must be for UK nationals only”.
“Social housing is desperately scarce, subsidised by the British taxpayer, and once a tenancy is granted it can last a lifetime,” the party said in its social media announcement.
“Britain cannot be a cash machine for the whole world.”
The Conservatives’ policy would be to reserve new social homes for UK nationals and unlock 230,000 new social homes for British families stuck on waiting lists.
Under these proposals any one who is not a UK, Irish, or EU citizen living in a social home would be evicted, even if they are living with children.
Reform accused the Tories of copying its policies, with former MP and leader Farage having previously announced that foreign nationals living in social housing would be required to find private accommodation within three months if Reform won power.
In response, Conservative MP Helen Whately noted that this policy was first revealed last year as part of the £23 billion in savings the party promised at its conference.
The effect of social housing in London
Social housing is provided by housing associations or local councils at a cheaper rate than private rentals to those who qualify due to their difficult circumstances.
Those who live in social housing are often a productive economic force despite their subsidised rent. A recent study by G15 found that Londoners living in social housing generate £9 for every £1 they receive in housing benefit.
In total, those living in London’s social housing contribute £27.8 billion in economic output every year. 65% of those who work are employed in key worker occupations, including jobs such as health and social work.
The cost of housing is the biggest factor in shaping the opportunities and lifestyles of people in London, which G15 said showed that the city needs more social housing to improve economic productivity and living conditions for those in the capital.
