The social housing sector has reacted largely positively to the government’s pre-Budget package of major policies announced over the weekend.

The government on Saturday announced a £500m top-up to the existing 2021-2026 Affordable Homes Programme and a five-year social housing rent settlement which will allow rents to increase by the Consumer Price Index measure of inflation plus 1%.

A long-term housing strategy, which will set out details of affordable homes funding post-2026, will be published in Spring alongside the government’s spending review, which ministers say will have a particular focus on social rented homes.