Shelter response: Prime Minister's announcement on social housing

Polly Neate, CEO of Shelter, said: "We’re pleased to see the government acting to ease the misery of millions of private renters and tackling the desperate need for social homes at genuinely affordable rents. 

All new money is welcome, but the reality is that with over 1.2 million households on waiting lists already, this is only a fraction of the long-term investment required. It will need to be the start, rather than the end.

We hope the government will be matching the size of their ambition to the sheer scale of the problem, with far more funding and the new powers for councils promised by the Prime Minister. Turning around our housing crisis for ordinary families will take a real commitment and a bold long term strategy."