Research: The Cost of Inaction

Shelter commissioned Cebr (Centre for Economics and Business Research) to deliver economic analysis looking at the cost of not delivering social housing. The analysis estimates the costs to the government and public services if there is not a significant increase in social rent delivery. The analysis focuses on the long-term cost of inaction (i.e. not delivering social housing at scale), including both the homes that are not built and the knock-on effect on future available lettings.

The economic benefits of building 90,000 social rent homes are clear. If social rent delivery remains low, these benefits will be missed. But there are also costs associated with inaction. If social rent delivery remains at current levels, there will be significant costs to the government and public services, including the NHS, housing benefit and temporary accommodation.