UK Labour Government Advances Housing Reform with Renters' Rights Act and Record Council Building

In June 2026 the Labour government passed the Renters' Rights Act, strengthening tenant protections, limiting rent hikes and giving landlords powers to evict domestic-abuse perpetrators. The same month it launched a £39 bn social and affordable housing programme aimed at mass council housebuilding.

The Guardian

The crisis stems from decades of under-investment, the Right-to-Buy scheme that sold over two million council homes, and a rise in temporary accommodation. Today 1.3 million households remain on waiting lists and 175 000 children live in temporary housing.

The Guardian

Key actors include Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Labour government, local councils, renters, domestic-abuse survivors and campaign groups such as the Big Issue.

The Guardian

In 2024-25 England built 10 000 council homes – the highest in 40 years – and delivered 65 000 affordable homes, including 12 000 social-rent units, under a £39 bn programme. Right-to-Buy eligibility was raised to ten years and new social homes are exempt for 35 years.

The Guardian

The government says the reforms address a ‘dire housing crisis’, empower tenants, stabilise rents and protect domestic-abuse survivors. It cites the record council-building output as proof of renewed public-sector capacity.

The Guardian

Campaigners welcome the act but say it does not fully curb rent inflation, urging stronger caps and measures against bidding wars, and calling for more robust enforcement of the new rent-limit provisions.

Keir Starmer: 'There's a challenge of getting good news out there'

All figures come from government statements; independent verification is lacking.

The Independent

• “’ “We’ve tilted the balance to tenants, those in rented accommodation.” — Keir Starmer, Prime Minister

Keir Starmer: 'There's a challenge of getting good news out there'

• “If we hold on to values like every single child should be able to go as far as their talent or ability will take them, that is only true if they’ve got somewhere secure to live.” — Keir Starmer, Prime Minister

Keir Starmer: 'There's a challenge of getting good news out there'

• “So many young people say to me, because they are paying so much of their income in rent, they can’t afford to save up a deposit or something like that to get a house. And so it’s holding them back in a broader way,” — Keir Starmer, Prime Minister

Keir Starmer: 'There's a challenge of getting good news out there'

• “That will be measured not just in the months or years of any given government, but for the lifetimes of these children, and that’s hugely important,” — Keir Starmer, Prime Minister

Keir Starmer: 'There's a challenge of getting good news out there'

• “We also need to see the human being behind the statistic,” — Keir Starmer, Prime Minister

Keir Starmer: 'There's a challenge of getting good news out there'

Implementation will be tracked via tenancy tribunals and rent data; council targets remain at 1.5 million homes for the term, and will be reported publicly.

The Guardian