Nearly a third of UK adults suffered health issues due to cramped lockdown conditions

The chief executive of the National Housing Federation has called on the government to put social housing at the centre of its post-covid recovery plan following Boris Johnson’s “build, build, build” speech on Tuesday.

Kate Henderson (pictured) said the government must take this opportunity to fix the housing crisis after a YouGov survey showed that nearly a third of UK adults had suffered physical and mental health problems during lockdown due to living in cramped housing.

Kate Henderson

National Housing Federation CEO Kate Henderson

The Chartered Institute of Housing, Crisis, the Association of Retained Council Housing and the National Federation of ALMOs have joined the National Housing Federation in backing the “Homes at the Heart” campaign calling for a “once-in-a-generation investment in social housing.”

Henderson said: “The government have said they want to end rough sleeping, rebuild communities and help the economy bounce back.

“Putting more money in to building new social homes, and improving the quality of existing homes, will help achieve all of these things.”

In May, housing secretary Robert Jenrick vowed to provide 3,300 homes for rough sleepers within the next year.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive at Crisis, said the campaign aimed to build on the progress made in tackling homelessness during the pandemic. 

He added: “Urgent investment in social housing would be a major springboard towards ending homelessness for good, ensuring that everyone has somewhere safe and settled to call home.”

Around 30,000 people are living in a home consisting of a single room during lockdown, according to the survey.

John Bibby, chief executive of the Association of Retained Council Housing, said: “The covid-19 pandemic has once again brought the connection between poor, overcrowded housing and health and wellbeing into stark relief.

“A legacy of the pandemic must be a renewed determination to ensure that everyone has access to a decent, affordable home.”