Rural Housing Week 2026

Rural Housing Week is an annual campaign that highlights the many social and economic benefits of affordable housing to rural communities.

Highlights from Rural Housing Week 2026

Rural Housing Week 2026 took place 6-10 July, a week where we explored the scale of need and the barriers to delivery in rural areas, and how housing providers, local and national leaders, rural communities and others can work together to overcome these.

It was a great opportunity to highlight best practice on delivery, quality and sustainability of rural homes, and the wider social and economic benefits for rural communities.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Rural Housing Week 2026 a huge success.

New Rural Community Toolkit

This year we worked with members from the Rural Housing Network to publish a new Rural Community Toolkit, a practical guide for rural communities to make the most of devolution as it progresses in their area.

In the media

"Rural families are already in the most acute need of affordable homes, often priced out of the communities they call home and these proposals risk making the rural housing crisis even worse.” Read our press release to hear more from Kate Henderson, Chief Executive at the NHF.
On the 6 July, The Guardian reported exclusively on our findings that half of all new affordable housing supply in rural areas would be under threat should section 106 requirements on medium sites of 10-49 homes get relaxed.
On the same day, Will Jeffwitz, Head of Policy here at the NHF, spoke to BBC South East Today about rural affordable housing, and the threat posed to new rural development posed by changes within the NPPF. The segment also features a case study of a woman who was able to remain in her community because of affordable housing.

Events

Members across the country held local events, met with stakeholders and shared content on social media. These visits help councillors, MPs and mayors understand local housing challenges and the vital role housing associations play in supporting communities.
NHF chair Maggie Galliers recently visited one of our members in rural North Yorkshire leading up to Rural Housing Week. You can read more about the visit in her recent blog, Rural affordable housing: why investment and delivery matter.
NHF Chief Executive Kate Henderson visited Stonewater’s Shiremoor Hill development in Merriott, Somerset, where 39 ultra-energy-efficient homes are being built using Modern Methods of Construction. She was joined by Stonewater CEO Jonathan Layzell, Angus Michie, Angus MacDonald, Lee Jackson and Amy Green.

Blogs

We published an insightful blog from Kate Henderson, Supporting rural communities to deliver the affordable homes they need , which explored the growing shortage of affordable housing in rural England, the increasing demand for homes, and the opportunities and challenges presented by devolution and evolving government policy.

Webinars

During Rural Housing Week we hosted a webinar: Opportunities for building more rural affordable homes. This webinar discussed some of the challenges facing rural affordable housebuilding and how national and local political leaders, alongside the combined efforts of delivery partners and others, can work to overcome these and ensure rural communities benefit from the government’s ‘decade of social and affordable housing renewal’.

Watch now