UK Conservatives propose ending social housing for most foreign nationals

The UK’s Conservative Party has proposed sweeping changes to England’s social housing system, including ending eligibility for most foreign nationals if it returns to power after the next general election.

Under the plan, foreign nationals would no longer qualify for new social housing tenancies, while some current tenants could be required to leave their homes within six months.

The party said the policy would help release about 228,144 social housing properties for British families facing long waiting lists and a shortage of affordable homes.

The Conservatives accused the Labour government of failing to manage immigration effectively, arguing that the housing system should prioritise British households.

Labour rejected the proposal, calling it “an unserious, unworkable proposal, copied from Reform,” and argued that it would do little to resolve the country’s housing crisis.

The proposal follows comments made in June by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who suggested foreign nationals living in social housing should move into private housing within three months or face possible deportation if his party takes office.

If adopted, the Conservative policy would require some existing foreign national tenants to leave social housing within six months.

The proposal would remove eligibility for single people who are not UK, Irish or EU citizens, including those with children.

It would also apply to couples where neither partner is a UK or Irish citizen or an EU citizen with settled status.

EU citizens who already have settled status would continue to qualify for social housing and would not be required to leave under the proposals.

For future allocations, eligibility would remain for UK and Irish citizens and EU nationals with settled status, while newly arrived EU citizens without settled status would no longer qualify.

Existing rules currently allow some foreign nationals with settled status, refugee status or humanitarian protection to access social housing, while asylum seekers are generally excluded except in exceptional cases.

Social housing, provided mainly by councils and housing associations, offers lower-cost and more secure accommodation than most private rental properties.

The Conservatives had previously explored similar reforms while in government in 2024, including proposals requiring foreign nationals to complete 10 years of residence in the UK before becoming eligible for social housing.

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