Social Housing in the UK: A Quick Overview

Social housing in the UK is an umbrella term that covers several types of housing designed to support people with different needs and circumstances.

Here are a few key categories:

1. Core Housing

This refers to homes provided for general needs—typically families or individuals on lower incomes or requiring some level of support.

• Social Rent is usually set significantly below market rates—around 40–60% of what the same property would cost privately.
• Affordable Rent tends to be closer to 80% of open market rent and is aimed at those on modest incomes who might not qualify for social rent.
  Key workers such as nurses, police officers, and teachers are often housed in these properties.

Rental levels can vary depending on:

• Location (urban vs rural)
• Property size
• The landlord (e.g. local council vs housing association)
• Whether it’s a new build or part of the existing housing stock

2. Specialised Supported Housing (SSH) – also known as Supported Living

These are purpose-built or adapted properties that provide safe, secure homes for individuals with additional needs, such as learning disabilities, mental health conditions, or physical disabilities.

Homes in this category may include:

• Flats or houses with shared communal spaces
• On-site staff accommodation
• Training and therapy rooms
• Bungalows or ground-floor flats with level access for wheelchair users

These are just some of the types of social housing available. In reality, housing needs are as varied as the people who live in them. We’ll explore each of these areas in more depth in future posts.