Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help tackle overcrowding in social housing in (a) Gloucester and (b) England.

I refer my Hon Friend to my answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024 that sets out the steps the government is taking to increase social and affordable housebuilding, which will help tackle overcrowding.

Local authorities, including Gloucester City Council, are responsible for allocating social housing through schemes managed locally. In doing so, they are governed by a framework set by central government which ensures that they must give ‘reasonable preference’ to specific groups, including people in overcrowded housing. Statutory allocations guidance also recommends local authorities consider giving ‘additional preference’ (high priority) to families in severe overcrowding which poses a serious health hazard.