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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that people working in the social care sector have access to social and affordable housing in proximity of their place of work and community networks; and what plans she has to increase the supply of affordable housing stock in areas of high demand.

As set out in my answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024, this government has committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, including in areas of high demand.

Local authorities are responsible for designing and managing their own housing allocations policies to meet local need.

To ensure sufficient social and affordable housing is available for those working in the social care sector in proximity to their place of work and community networks, S.166A(6)(b) HA96 allows local authorities to set local lettings policies i.e., to allocate accommodation to people of a particular description such as people working in the care sector. Housing associations can apply a similar principle when allocating Affordable Rent homes.