Social housing and immigrants - myths dispelled

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by Gill Montia

A new report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission has concluded that immigrants to the UK are not jumping to the top of waiting lists for social housing.

Research that will hopefully dispel myths that British born people are losing out to incomers has found that the same proportion of immigrants live in social housing as UK-born residents.

A study carried out by the Institute for Public Policy Research, based on figures from the 2007 Labour Force Survey, has revealed that 64% of people who arrived in the UK within the last five years live in private rented accommodation.

After five years residency, one in six immigrants live in social housing and the report claims this is exactly the same proportion as those who are born in Britain.

The figures also indicate that 90% of those in social housing are UK born.

At the same time, 11% of new arrivals do get help with housing with this group almost exclusively comprising asylum seekers.

The report suggests perceptions that migrants displace UK-born social housing applicants may arise from the fact that newly arrived immigrants occupy homes that were former social housing stock and local residents may not be aware that the properties are now in the private rental sector.

Equality and Human Rights Commission chair, Trevor Phillips, believes the findings are an indication the system is working fairly.

However, he adds: “What’s clear is that there is a gap between supply and demand of social housing of which the presence of immigrants is a relatively small element, but often a highly visible one.”

Mr Phillips suggests: “With increased pressure on social housing in the future there will be a need to resource the system appropriately and manage it fairly in years ahead.”