Call for evidence
We are seeking written evidence from organisations and individuals to help shape recommendations to government on overcoming the barriers to delivering council homes for social rent.
Inquiry into the barriers to delivering council housing
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Council and Social Housing has launched an inquiry into the barriers to building and acquiring council homes for social rent.
Key information
Deadline: 1 July 2026
Submit evidence by email: appgcash@shelter.org.uk
Evidence format: Word document. Maximum 1,500 words, including an executive summary of up to 250 words.
Purpose of the inquiry
Councils provide secure, genuinely affordable social rent homes for millions of people. Despite this, delivery of new council homes has been at a historic low for decades.
This inquiry seeks to understand the challenges local authorities face and the wider impact on communities when council homes are not delivered at scale.
The inquiry will examine:
systemic and localised barriers – including economic, financial, political, regulatory, and operational constraints – that prevent councils from building or acquiring homes for social rent
the social and economic consequences for communities when homes for social rent are undersupplied
practical solutions and policy recommendations to enable councils to deliver homes at scale
The findings will inform a report to Parliament and recommendations to government.
Who can submit evidence
We welcome written evidence from:
local authorities and housing associations
mayoral/combined authorities
industry experts, academics and think tanks
charities and community organisations
individuals with lived experience
What we want to hear about
We invite evidence on (but not limited to) the following areas:
1. Barriers to delivering council homes for social rent
funding and wider income constraints
land availability and planning challenges – including compulsory purchase orders
skills shortages and capacity within local authorities
viability of acquisitions for social rent
impact of Right to Buy and other policies
political and governance barriers at local, regional and national levels – e.g. short election cycles, misalignment on priorities between tiers of government
2. Impact on communities and local authorities
housing affordability and homelessness trends
impact on local authority budgets and services
effects on health, education and employment
community cohesion and displacement
positive impacts of delivering council homes for social rent, including case studies
3. Solutions
policy changes needed to enable councils to build social rent homes
the role of Local Housing Companies in delivering social rent homes
'Right to Buy Back' and similar schemes to acquire or reacquire homes for social rent
best practice delivery and partnership models
examples of successful delivery and lessons learnt
Submission guidance
What to include
Your submission should include:
your name, organisation, and contact details
data, case studies and references, where possible
whether the submission is confidential or can be published
Word limit
Your submission must be no longer than 1,500 words, including an executive summary of up to 250 words.
File format
Send your submission as a Word document.
How to submit evidence
Email your submission to appgcash@shelter.org.uk by 1 July 2026.
Next steps
Evidence will be reviewed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group Secretariat. Selected contributors will be invited to give oral evidence at a parliamentary session. A final report will be published and shared with government, Parliament and stakeholders.
Contact us
For any questions about the inquiry or submitting evidence, please contact appgcash@shelter.org.uk