How many social housing homes are there in England?

There were about 4.2 million social rented homes in England on 31 March 2025: 2.6 million owned by housing associations (private registered providers) and 1.6 million by councils, according to MHCLG's Dwelling stock estimates in England: 2025. The English Housing Survey counted 4.1 million social renting households in 2024-25, 16% of all households.

About 263,000 new social lettings were made in 2024-25, according to Social housing lettings in England, which also covers rents and tenants' previous circumstances. Dwelling figures count homes and the survey counts households, so they differ slightly. Whether the stock is growing depends on new building as well as sales and demolitions, which are published separately.

Official sources: Dwelling stock estimates in England: 2025 · Social housing lettings in England, April 2024 to March 2025

The latest figure

The newest value is at Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). More on it: Net additional homes in England.

When is the next figure out?

Annual each November for the previous April to March (2024-25 published 20 November 2025; 2025-26 provisionally due in November 2026). Quarterly 'indicators of new supply' cover starts, completions and an estimate of net additions from Energy Performance Certificates (latest 24 September 2026; next due December 2026 or January 2027)

Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.

Terms used in this answer

• Affordable housing
  In English planning policy, a defined set of tenures for people whose needs are not met by the market, including social rent, affordable rent and some low-cost home ownership.
• Social rent
  Rented homes owned by councils or housing associations, with rents set using a government formula and usually well below market rents.
• Affordable rent
  A type of social housing in England where rent can be set at up to 80% of the local market rent, including service charges.
• Financial year
  The UK government's accounting year, running from 1 April to 31 March. Written as 2025-26 or FYE March 2026. The tax year runs 6 April to 5 April.
• Seasonally adjusted
  Figures that have had regular calendar patterns removed, such as Christmas shopping or summer jobs, so that underlying movements between months or quarters can be seen.
• Provisional figures
  Early estimates published before all data are in, so users get timely figures. They are expected to be updated when later data arrive.

Where the figures come from

• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) statistics and Stat-Xplore
  Where to find DWP figures on Universal Credit, PIP, State Pension and Pension Credit, how to build a Stat-Xplore table and use the free Open Data API.
• MHCLG housing and homelessness statistics (with MoJ possessions and devolved equivalents)
  Official figures on temporary accommodation, rough sleeping, waiting lists, social lettings, evictions and tenure in England and the rest of the UK.

Related questions

• How many people are on social housing waiting lists?
• How many council homes are sold through Right to Buy?
• How many evictions and repossessions are there in England and Wales?

This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about homelessness, social housing and renting: all Homelessness, social housing and renting questions.