Our asks for the Autumn Budget

On 26 November 2025, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves will share her Autumn Budget, updating the nation on the state of the public finances and the government’s spending and taxation plans.

Here you'll find details of our asks ahead of the Autumn Statement.

Summary

Housing associations are uniquely placed to support the government to kickstart growth, end the housing crisis, tackle the climate emergency, and rebuild public services.

Yet there are still 8.5 million people in England who can’t access the housing they need. Households in England are facing record levels of homelessness. The total cost to society of poor housing is estimated at £18.5bn per year.

Our sector wants to do more, and the scale of the housing crisis demands we continue to effectively partner with local, regional and national government to do so.

The recommendations in this submission, taken together, would create the conditions for housing associations to:

Help deliver the biggest increase in affordable housebuilding in a generation.
Progress our shared priorities through investment in existing homes to make them safe, green and high-quality.
Play a critical role in supporting public services to rebuild.

Previous budgets

Spending review 2025

Spring Statement 2025

Response

Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2024

Submission

Spring Budget 2024

What are we asking the Chancellor to include in the Autumn Budget 2025:

Introduce rent convergence with a £3 per week uplift from 2026, ensuring social rents remain fair and affordable for residents., relative to local income. This measure would generate £3.35bn rental income that would unlock capacity for £8bn in private borrowing. Modelling suggests this could enable the sector to build an additional 51,000 homes over 10 years.
Save our supported housing by committing to emergency funding to prevent further scheme closures, working towards a sustainable funding solution for supported housing and making homes for older persons and disabled people more accessible.
Exempt housing associations from the Economic Crime Levy or create a specific category for the sector.
Tax reform to speed up development and invest in the quality of existing homes. Zero-rating VAT on building safety works could save social landlords £633m to deliver over 12,000 new homes. Extending the zero-rating of VAT on Energy Saving Materials until 2030 will help housing associations invest in both decarbonisation and new home delivery.
Confirm funding for the Warm Homes Plan to decarbonise homes and improve the health and wellbeing of residents. A further £3.7bn is needed for the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, along with further support for heat networks.
Increase investment in existing homes through targeted grant funding to support housing associations and local authorities improve the quality of existing homes and meet new regulatory requirements.
Reforming welfare to support residents on the lowest incomes, by uprating local housing allowance, abolishing the two-child benefit cap and removing the household benefit cap.

Read our submission

Who to speak to

Adam Gravely, Policy Officer

adam.gravely@housing.org.uk