Today the Regulator of Social Housing published statistics about the social housing sector, including stock ownership and rents as of 31 March 2025.
Returns from all private and local authority registered providers show that the sector provides around 4.5 million homes across England, with a net increase of nearly 38,000 social homes since 2024.
This overall rise has been driven by an increase of roughly 28,000 in Affordable Rent homes and around a 13,900 increase in low cost home ownership homes. There was also a decrease of just over 4,100 social rent homes.
Private registered providers had a net gain of nearly 2,900 social rent homes. Local authorities saw a decrease of around 7,000 social rent homes (likely to be primarily driven by right to buy sales and other schemes).
Private registered providers built, purchased or acquired the majority of new homes in the sector, accounting for 83% of the total increase in Affordable Rent and 98% for low cost home ownership properties.
The statistics show that 83% of social homes in England are general needs (social rent and Affordable Rent), while supported housing makes up 11% and low cost home ownership 6%.
Private registered providers also reported that 75% of homes had an energy efficiency certificate rating of EPC-C or above, an increase from 71% in 2024. A further 19% had a rating of EPC-D.
Just over 537,000 homes were surveyed by private registered providers during the year. Over the year, providers identified nearly 41,000 homes which did not meet the Decent Homes Standard; over 35,400 properties were remediated to bring them up to the DHS.
A further 9,335 homes were excluded from having to meet DHS requirements due to circumstances which prevent or limit remediation works.
Rents for all private and local authority registered providers increased as expected over the year. The average increase in general needs (social rent) average weekly net rents was 8% between 31 March 2024 and 31 March 2025 (in line with the limit set for 2024/25).
The average weekly general needs (social rent) weekly rent in England was £113.69, though this varied across the country. Average rents were lowest in the North East (£95.16) and highest in London (£140.70).
Rents for local authorities are lower on average than for private registered providers.
Will Perry, Director of Strategy at RSH, said:
"This analysis is key to our understanding of the sector overall and the ongoing economic challenges it faces.
"It is part of our work to support social landlords to provide safe, decent homes for current and future tenants, including those currently on waiting lists.
"It is positive to see providers investing in building new homes, as well as understanding their existing homes better. Without accurate, up-to-date data, landlords cannot make the right strategic decisions on the condition of their homes and other issues, or manage risk properly."
Statistics at RSH - Regulator of Social Housing
Notes
Total social housing stock includes general needs social rent, general needs Affordable Rent, social rent supported housing, Affordable Rent social housing, and low-cost home ownership.
Local authority social housing data was formerly collected through the Local Authority Housing Survey. Since 1 April 2020 it has been collected by RSH through the Local Authority Data Return, when RSH took on the responsibility for regulating local authority rents. Private registered provider data has been collected by RSH though the Statistical Data Return since 2012.
Both local authority and private registered provider stock and rents statistics are designated as Accredited Official Statistics by the UK Statistics Authority.
There were 1,581 providers on RSH's register on 31 March 2025. Of these, 228 were local authorities and 1,353 were private registered providers.
Homes include self-contained units such as houses and flats and non-self-contained bed spaces, referred to collectively as units in the data.
Of the c. 4.5 million units of social housing stock owner by registered providers, private registered providers own 2.9m homes while local authority registered providers own 1.6m homes.
The limit on annual general needs rent increases between 2024 and 2025 was 7.7%. Additions to stock, units with exceptions and PRPs setting set rents in line with the prevailing formula rent rate when re-letting units can lead to the average year-on-year change being higher than might otherwise be expected..
The Regulator of Social Housing promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver and maintain homes of appropriate quality that meet a range of needs. It does this by undertaking robust economic regulation focusing on governance, financial viability and value for money that maintains lender confidence and protects the taxpayer. It also sets consumer standards and may take action if these standards are breached and there is a significant risk of serious detriment to tenants or potential tenants.
