Bank’s total funding for social homes since 2018 surpasses £35bn
NatWest has announced a new ambition to lend a further £10bn to the social housing sector by 2028.
The measure aims to support the delivery and maintenance of social housing by lending money to housing associations across the UK to build new homes and upgrade existing properties.
The package builds on the £25bn in commercial loans and capital market support the bank has already committed to the sector between January 2018 and December 2025. This would bring its total funding for social housing to more than £35bn.
NatWest has also delivered on its £7.5bn lending ambition for social homes from 2024 to 2026 a year early.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “This government is backing a step change in affordable housing to end the housing crisis, with £39 billion for a new social and affordable homes programme and 10 year rent certainty for the sector.
“NatWest’s investment will be vital in helping housing associations deliver thousands of affordable homes for families priced out of home ownership, building an economy that works for and rewards working people.”
Last year, NatWest announced several other initiatives and partnerships to complement its social housing lending ambitions. These include a financial guarantee of up to £400m from the National Wealth Fund to cover a series of new loans to registered providers of social housing in the UK.
The bank also launched a new social loan product to support housing associations that are already NatWest customers to construct social rent homes across the UK. In December 2025, this fund was doubled to £1bn “in response to strong demand”.
No comments yet