One million homes for rent needed by 2021

Almost a million affordable rental homes are needed by 2021 if England is to stave off a homelessness crisis, a study from Cambridge University has found.

A “severe” shortfall in rented housing is leaving the most vulnerable people out in the cold, research shows.

The country is already almost 300,000 short of the number of homes it needs at below-market rent. Sub-market rental property includes council, housing association or private rented sector units accessible with housing benefit. The greatest shortfall is in London, where almost 190,000 more sub-market homes are needed.

The shadow Housing Minister, Jack Dromey MP, said: “This is yet more evidence of the biggest housing crisis in a generation. The Government’s failure is having dramatic consequences for people all over the country.”

Housing Minister, Mark Prisk, said: “420,000 social homes were lost under the previous administration, but we are building 170,000 new affordable homes for rent and affordable home ownership by 2015, and are planning to accelerate the building rate.”