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Social Housing: Foreign Nationals

Asked by Wendy MortonConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 26 May 2026UIN 240

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of social housing allocations made to households where the lead tenant is not a UK national in each of the last five years; what assessment he has made of the potential impact of those allocations on waiting lists for UK citizens; and whether he plans to review eligibility criteria for access to social housing and other publicly funded housing support.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook

Eligibility for social housing is already tightly controlled. If a person’s visa means that they cannot access state benefits or local authority housing assistance, they are not eligible for an allocation of social housing. Migrants arriving in the UK on student or work visas are not eligible and nor are those who arrive in the country illegally with no leave to remain.

I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers to Questions UIN 123491 on 2 April 2026, UIN 123488 on 1 April 2026, and UIN 123483 on 1 April 2026.

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