Housing associations in England have sold 25,000 social and affordable homes to private buyers who do not live in them since the 2018/19 financial year. The rate of these sales has increased, with 5,250 homes sold in 2024/25, which is the highest annual figure recorded and 89% more than two years earlier.
These figures, obtained by the Local Councils Network (LCN) through Freedom of Information requests to the Regulator of Social Housing, indicate that nearly all properties were sold at full market price. These sales are distinct from homes purchased by tenants via Right to Acquire or Right to Buy schemes.
Cllr Paul Harvey, LCN's social housing spokesperson, stated that with 1.34 million households on social housing waiting lists, the loss of existing homes contributes to challenges for those needing secure housing and increases public sector costs. He called for government action to ensure public funding for new social housing is directed to landlords who manage disposals responsibly.
LCN is advocating for the government to use the Social Housing Bill to grant councils and other registered providers a statutory right of first refusal when housing association properties are sold. They also seek longer notice periods, improved information before sales, and a rescue fund to assist councils and housing associations in acquiring at-risk homes. LCN also wants grant money recovered from social rent home sales to be reinvested in replacement social rent properties in the same area.
Alistair Smyth, National Housing Federation director of policy and research, stated that housing associations sometimes sell properties to reinvest proceeds into existing homes and new developments. He noted that associations spent a record £9.7bn on repairs and maintenance last year and have built 333,165 new homes since 2018/19, including 40,651 for social rent. Mr Smyth also said the number of social homes owned by housing associations has continued to grow in recent years, with starts on new social rent homes increasing by 57% in one year.