Conservatives propose banning foreign nationals from social housing in England

The UK Conservative Party has proposed a policy to end social housing provision for foreign nationals in England should they win the next election. The party claims this move would make an estimated 228,144 homes available for British families. The proposal targets foreign nationals seeking new social housing tenancies and couples currently living in social housing where neither partner holds UK, Irish, or EU citizenship.

The Conservatives argue that the Labour party has lost control of immigration, resulting in British families being placed on housing waiting lists. Labour, however, has dismissed the proposal as unworkable, noting its similarity to a policy previously suggested by Reform UK. Labour also contends that the plan fails to address the broader housing crisis, which they attribute to the Conservatives' past governance.

Under the proposed Conservative plan, households deemed ineligible would have six months to vacate their homes. A single foreign national tenant without UK, Irish, or EU citizenship would lose their social home, regardless of whether they have children. Similarly, couples where neither partner holds UK or EU citizenship and lack EU settled status would be affected. Those with EU settled status would be exempt.

For future tenancies, eligibility would be restricted to UK nationals and individuals with EU settled status. New EU citizens without settled status would not qualify. Currently, foreign nationals with settled status, refugee status, or specific humanitarian protections are eligible for social housing, though asylum seekers are generally not, except in exceptional circumstances like domestic abuse cases. As of March 2025, 1.34 million households were on social housing waiting lists in the UK.