Public perception around social housing is easing, survey finds

Despite Britain being largely a nation of home owners, a new poll has found more than half the public would support more council and housing association homes being built in their local area.

An Ipsos Mori poll, commissioned by England’s National Housing Federation(NHF), also revealed 80% of the 1,997 adults interviewed believed social housing should be available to people when private rent became too expensive.

The research, to mark the second ever #HousingDay, found more than two in three - 67% - said social housing plays an ‘important role’ in tackling poverty.

Gill Payne, director of policy and external affairs at the NHF, said: "Everyone needs a decent home they can afford to live in and we should be proud of our country’s social housing that provides just that for millions of people across the country.

“But sadly, after decades of governments failing to build the affordable homes we need, we’re now faced with a housing crisis that can only be solved by having the right homes in the right places at a price that people can actually afford.”

Ipsos Mori conducted the 1,997 face-to-face interviews with adults aged above 16 between October 24 and November 2 on behalf of a consortium of housing associations as well as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The data was weighted to reflect Great Britain’s population.