This week on Property Matters, Gareth Wax and Hamish McLay will be joined by Tiffany Fairbrother to discuss a question that many people are asking. With so much focus on building new homes, why does it often feel as though council housing has been left behind?

Almost every week we hear about new housing developments, planning reforms and ambitious building targets. New estates continue to appear across the country, with homes for sale and private rent. Yet council waiting lists remain long, and thousands of families continue to live in temporary accommodation while waiting for a permanent home.

The timing of this discussion could not be more relevant. Yesterday, in his first speech as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham pledged to build more council homes, placing social housing at the centre of his plans to tackle the housing crisis, reduce welfare dependency and help end rough sleeping.

The announcement immediately raises an important question. Have successive governments focused too heavily on private development while council housing has received far less attention?

There is no doubt that Britain needs more homes. Private developers play a vital role in delivering them, and homes for sale and private rent remain essential parts of the housing market. The challenge is that council housing relies on long-term public investment, while councils continue to face financial pressures, borrowing limits and competing priorities.

The legacy of Right to Buy also continues to shape today's housing market. Millions of council homes have been sold over the past four decades, yet many councils say they have never been able to replace them on a one-for-one basis. The result is growing demand for a shrinking supply of council homes.

Meanwhile, councils are spending increasing amounts on temporary accommodation because suitable council properties simply are not available. That leads many people to ask whether investing in more council housing would actually save money over the long term.

It is also worth remembering that "affordable housing" does not always mean council housing. New developments may include shared ownership, affordable rent or housing association homes, all of which have an important place, although they do not necessarily increase council-owned housing stock.

This is not about criticising private developers or suggesting that homes for sale should stop being built. Britain needs housing across every tenure. The real question is whether the balance has moved too far away from council housing at a time when demand has never been greater.

Andy Burnham's announcement has certainly brought the issue back into the spotlight. Building significant numbers of council homes will require funding, land, planning reform and cooperation between central and local government. Promises are one thing. Delivering thousands of quality homes is another.

Joining Gareth Wax and Hamish McLay, Tiffany Fairbrother will share her perspective as we discuss whether this could mark the beginning of a genuine return to council house building or whether we have heard similar promises before. More importantly, will people on waiting lists finally see meaningful change?

Join us live as we explore one of the biggest housing questions facing Britain today: are council tenants being left behind, or could this be the moment that council housing finally returns to the heart of government policy?

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea

For content enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For podcast/media enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.