THE PROPERTY FILTER TAKE
IPPR North and Crisis project England's homeless figure will rise 25% to 231,299 by 2029-30 without radical government action - briefed to PM Burnham's team before he took office on 20 July 2026.
A housing-first agenda signals increased social housing supply, likely scrutiny of long-term empty homes, and pressure on the temporary accommodation sector - all with direct implications for landlords.
You may wish to review your portfolio's exposure to Local Housing Allowance rates and any long-term empty properties, as the Burnham government's stated policy direction points to tighter oversight of both.
England's homeless population is on course to reach 231,299 by 2029-30 - a 25% rise on today's figure - unless the new government delivers radical housing reform. That is the central finding of a report published on 13 July 2026 by thinktank IPPR North and homelessness charity Crisis. The report was briefed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham's leadership team before he took office on 20 July 2026.
The scale of the crisis in numbers
The current official figure stands at 182,540 people in England owed a statutory homelessness duty - a legal obligation on local councils to find suitable accommodation. Without bold action, IPPR North and Crisis project that figure will rise to 231,299 by 2029-30, adding 50,000 more people to the total.
Rough sleeping data shows the depth of the problem. Official counts recorded 4,793 people sleeping on England's streets last summer, a figure already considered an underestimate. When hostels and other temporary accommodation are included, the total homeless count exceeds 180,000 people across England.
The financial cost is escalating sharply. According to the Local Government Association, England's councils spent £70.3m on temporary accommodation in 2009-10. By 2024-25 that figure had grown to at least £1.3bn. The UK government spent £3.8bn on homelessness last year - more than double the 2010 figure - according to the Institute for Government. Most of that spending funds hostels and bed-and-breakfasts that IPPR North and Crisis describe as offering "neither stability nor a genuine pathway out of homelessness."
Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis, called it "madness" to continue spending billions trapping people in homelessness with poor outcomes.
What Burnham has pledged and what the report demands
Burnham entered Downing Street on 20 July 2026 with a commitment to the "biggest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period." The IPPR North and Crisis report calls for a national expansion of his "A Bed Every Night" programme. That Greater Manchester initiative provides a bed and personalised support to every person at risk of sleeping rough.
The report also calls for urgent action to bring long-term empty homes back into use. This, it argues, would reduce councils' reliance on costly temporary accommodation.
No specific legislation has been tabled yet. The deadline for any formal housing-first policy is TBC. The policy direction, however, is unambiguous: the Burnham government has named homelessness as a national priority from day one.
What landlords and investors should watch
Three policy signals carry direct implications for property investors.
First, a large-scale council housebuilding programme means increased social housing supply over time. Landlords operating in the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) market - where rent benchmarks are set against prevailing local rents - should monitor how new supply affects yields. You may wish to check current LHA benchmark rates in your target area using the LHA rates map.
Second, the call to bring long-term empty homes back into use suggests future incentives or obligations for owners of vacant stock. If you hold long-term empty properties, you may wish to model the impact on your returns now. The stress test calculator can help you assess yield exposure under different scenarios.
Third, increased scrutiny of temporary accommodation - including hostels and B&Bs charging high nightly rates to councils - may lead to new quality standards or cost controls. Landlords supplying rooms to local authorities should monitor this area closely.
For a full overview of the current regulatory landscape, consider exploring the free resources hub.
Key takeaways
IPPR North and Crisis (13 July 2026) project England's homeless figure will rise from 182,540 to 231,299 by 2029-30 - a 25% increase - without radical action.
Government spending on homelessness reached £3.8bn last year, with council spending on temporary accommodation up from £70.3m (2009-10) to at least £1.3bn (2024-25).
PM Burnham (in office since 20 July 2026) has committed to a housing-first approach and the largest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period.
No formal legislation has been tabled yet - the deadline is TBC. Policy direction points to action on empty homes, social housing supply, and temporary accommodation standards.
England's homeless population is on course to reach 231,299 by 2029-30 - a 25% rise on today's figure - unless the new government delivers radical housing reform. That is the central finding of a report published on 13 July 2026 by thinktank IPPR North and homelessness charity Crisis. The report was briefed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham's leadership team before he took office on 20 July 2026.
The scale of the crisis in numbers
The current official figure stands at 182,540 people in England owed a statutory homelessness duty - a legal obligation on local councils to find suitable accommodation. Without bold action, IPPR North and Crisis project that figure will rise to 231,299 by 2029-30, adding 50,000 more people to the total.
Rough sleeping data shows the depth of the problem. Official counts recorded 4,793 people sleeping on England's streets last summer, a figure already considered an underestimate. When hostels and other temporary accommodation are included, the total homeless count exceeds 180,000 people across England.
The financial cost is escalating sharply. According to the Local Government Association, England's councils spent £70.3m on temporary accommodation in 2009-10. By 2024-25 that figure had grown to at least £1.3bn. The UK government spent £3.8bn on homelessness last year - more than double the 2010 figure - according to the Institute for Government. Most of that spending funds hostels and bed-and-breakfasts that IPPR North and Crisis describe as offering "neither stability nor a genuine pathway out of homelessness."
Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis, called it "madness" to continue spending billions trapping people in homelessness with poor outcomes.
What Burnham has pledged and what the report demands
Burnham entered Downing Street on 20 July 2026 with a commitment to the "biggest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period." The IPPR North and Crisis report calls for a national expansion of his "A Bed Every Night" programme. That Greater Manchester initiative provides a bed and personalised support to every person at risk of sleeping rough.
The report also calls for urgent action to bring long-term empty homes back into use. This, it argues, would reduce councils' reliance on costly temporary accommodation.
No specific legislation has been tabled yet. The deadline for any formal housing-first policy is TBC. The policy direction, however, is unambiguous: the Burnham government has named homelessness as a national priority from day one.
What landlords and investors should watch
Three policy signals carry direct implications for property investors.
First, a large-scale council housebuilding programme means increased social housing supply over time. Landlords operating in the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) market - where rent benchmarks are set against prevailing local rents - should monitor how new supply affects yields. You may wish to check current LHA benchmark rates in your target area using the LHA rates map.
Second, the call to bring long-term empty homes back into use suggests future incentives or obligations for owners of vacant stock. If you hold long-term empty properties, you may wish to model the impact on your returns now. The stress test calculator can help you assess yield exposure under different scenarios.
Third, increased scrutiny of temporary accommodation - including hostels and B&Bs charging high nightly rates to councils - may lead to new quality standards or cost controls. Landlords supplying rooms to local authorities should monitor this area closely.
For a full overview of the current regulatory landscape, consider exploring the free resources hub.
Key takeaways
IPPR North and Crisis (13 July 2026) project England's homeless figure will rise from 182,540 to 231,299 by 2029-30 - a 25% increase - without radical action.
Government spending on homelessness reached £3.8bn last year, with council spending on temporary accommodation up from £70.3m (2009-10) to at least £1.3bn (2024-25).
PM Burnham (in office since 20 July 2026) has committed to a housing-first approach and the largest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period.
No formal legislation has been tabled yet - the deadline is TBC. Policy direction points to action on empty homes, social housing supply, and temporary accommodation standards.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Does this policy apply across the whole of the UK?
What is "housing first" and why does it matter?
Is there a deadline landlords need to act on now?
