Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. Local authorities have discretion to disregard income that is once-off, temporary or short-term in nature and which is outside the regular pattern of a person’s annual income. Local authorities have no discretion to exceed the limits applying to their administrative areas.
Government is fully committed to delivering housing at scale, and continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures. The new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, sets out a broad range of measures which will activate and accelerate new homes delivery and provide affordable housing supports. The Plan has a strong focus on deliverability and removes structural barriers to homebuilding – unlocking land, reforming planning, delivering infrastructure and creating conditions for investment.
My Department has been examining the existing social housing income limits in the context of current market and household income conditions, including the suitability or otherwise of the current framework having regard to the significantly changed landscape since the standardised income limits were introduced. This includes examining the findings of research commissioned by my Department and this work is ongoing.
I am not in a position at this point to indicate the outcome of these considerations but I envisage that the analysis will be concluded early in 2026 to facilitate a final determination on next steps.
