A new report has called for public records to be kept on the delivery of social housing, arguing that greater transparency is needed in the sector.
Call for transparency
The report, published by the Housing Campaign for Change, says that without public records, it is difficult to assess progress on building new social homes and to hold local authorities and housing providers to account.
It highlights that while data exists on overall housebuilding, there is a lack of detailed, publicly available information specifically on social housing delivery.
Key recommendations
The report recommends that the government should require local authorities to publish regular updates on the number of social homes delivered in their areas, including details on tenures and affordability.
It also suggests that a national database should be created to track social housing delivery across the country, making it easier for communities and campaigners to monitor progress.
Impact on communities
The authors argue that better data would help communities hold decision-makers to account and ensure that promises on social housing are kept.
They also note that public records could help identify areas where delivery is lagging, allowing resources to be targeted more effectively.
