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The UK Conservative Party has proposed ending access to social housing for certain foreign nationals in England if it wins the next general election, saying the policy could free up 228,144 homes for British families.
The proposal targets foreign nationals seeking new social housing tenancies and couples currently living in social homes where neither partner is a UK, Irish or EU citizen.
The Conservatives said Labour had lost control of immigration and that British families were being left on lengthy housing waiting lists. Labour, however, dismissed the proposal as unworkable and accused the Conservatives of copying a Reform UK policy.
Under the proposed changes, households that become ineligible would have six months to leave their social homes. A single tenant who is not a UK, Irish or EU citizen would be affected regardless of whether they have children.
Couples would also be affected where neither partner is a UK or EU citizen and neither has EU settled status. People with EU settled status would be exempt, while only UK nationals and people with EU settled status would qualify for new social housing tenancies.
Foreign nationals with settled status, refugee status or specific humanitarian protections currently qualify for social housing, while asylum seekers generally do not, except in limited circumstances such as domestic abuse cases.
Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary, Helen Whately, defended the proposal, saying access to social housing should be linked to contribution and integration. “Britain cannot be a cash machine for the world. Labour has lost control of immigration and lost control of the welfare bill, and it is British families picking up the bill and sitting on waiting lists,” she said.
Labour Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, said the policy could affect refugees and long-settled residents while increasing the risk of homelessness. She described it as “an unworkable copy of Reform UK’s policy” that failed to address the country’s housing crisis.
Housing charity Shelter also criticised the proposal. Its chief executive, Sarah Elliott, said: “These divisive plans would brutally kick people out of their homes, including thousands of families and pensioners who have lived in them for decades.”
The proposal comes as pressure over housing shortages continues in England. Government figures cited in the report showed that 1.34 million households were on social housing waiting lists as of March 2025, while UK nationals accounted for 89 per cent of lead tenants receiving new social lettings in 2024-2025.
