Conservatives pledge to ban foreign nationals from social housing

The Conservative Party has pledged to ban foreign nationals from accessing social housing in England if they secure power in the upcoming election. Ending new tenancies for all foreign nationals, as well as existing tenancies for couples without UK, Irish or EU citizenship, could free up around 228,144 homes for British families.

This policy comes as Labour claims the Conservatives have lost control of immigration, leaving British families on housing waiting lists. However, Labour argues the policy is impractical and does not address the housing crisis the Conservatives allegedly created. Reform UK's leader, Nigel Farage, has previously suggested foreign nationals must find private accommodation within three months or face deportation if his party wins power.

Under the proposed Tory plan, ineligible tenants would need to leave their homes within six months. Couples without UK or EU citizenship, as well as single individuals, would lose their social housing entitlements. EU citizens with settled status would not be evicted. Future tenancies would only be granted to UK nationals and those with EU settled status, while new EU citizens without settled status would not qualify.

Currently, foreign nationals are eligible for social housing under certain conditions, such as refugee status or humanitarian protections. Asylum seekers are typically not eligible for social housing unless in exceptional circumstances, like domestic abuse cases. There are currently 1.34 million households on social housing waiting lists.

In 2024-25, 89% of new social lettings were given to UK nationals, while 2.3% went to refugees, mostly from Afghanistan and Ukraine. Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately stated that earning the right to live in Britain should involve working, paying taxes, and integrating. Labour's Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, claims the Conservative plan primarily affects refugees and long-term UK residents who have contributed to society, leaving more families at risk of homelessness.

Housing charity Shelter argues there are already strict eligibility rules for social housing, and accommodation is not granted on arrival. Reform UK claims the Conservative plan is copied from their own policy but accuses the Conservatives of not going far enough, as their ban does not include EU nationals with settled status.