New study shows no evidence of bias against UK born families in social housing allocation

LGA press release - 9 April 2008

Interim research released today by the EHRC and the Local Government Association (LGA) shows no evidence social housing allocation favours foreign migrants over UK citizens.

The findings are from a report commissioned from the IPPR to help establish whether the allocation system is prone to any systemic bias. The full results will be published later this year.

The report is based on Labour Force Survey data which gives a “snapshot” of local authority housing allocation in England and Wales and a new Local Government Association poll of local authority housing managers. Neither the qualitative analysis of local authorities’ policies, nor the examination of the patterns of tenure offer any evidence to support the hypothesis that recent migrants are given preferential access to social housing. Key findings include:

• New migrants to the UK over the last five years make up around three per cent of the total UK population but are less than two per cent of the total of those in social housing.
• 90 per cent of those in social housing are UK born.
• Most new migrants to the UK over the last five years, particularly from the new European Union member states such as Poland, have been ineligible to claim entitlement to social housing.
• There is no evidence in the research thus far of any abuse of the system including “queue jumping” to the significant detriment of any group, including white families.
• 11 per cent of new migrants have been allocated social housing. The comparable figure for UK born residents is 17 per cent, and for all foreign born UK residents is 18 per cent indicating that though some migrants do benefit from social housing, they are unlikely to do so until they have been settled for several years and become British citizens; and that they are not significantly more likely to benefit than other residents.
• More than 60 per cent of new migrants to the UK over the last five years are housed in private rented accommodation. 
• In an LGA survey of housing managers, two out of three said that they attributed the shortage of social housing in their area to high house prices. 6 per cent said that the reason for shortages is new migration.
• Perceptions that migrants displace UK-born social housing applicants may arise from the fact that much of the private rented housing which is now home to many newly arrived immigrants is former social housing stock. Local residents may believe it is still ‘owned by the council’ despite it now being in the private sector.

Trevor Phillips, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:

“I welcome these findings as they are an indication the system is, broadly speaking, working fairly for all groups.  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. 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.”

Sir Simon Milton, Chairman of the Local Government Association, a cross party organisation which represents councils in England, said:

“These findings demonstrate that councils are delivering a fair system for allocating social housing that is based on the needs of each individual who requires help. Despite the difficult situation brought on by an ever increasing demand for social housing, local authorities are working tirelessly to ensure that people are given equal access to limited housing stock.”

Press contacts: 
Mags Patten - EHRC Director of External affairs – 020 3117 0240
Richard Stokoe – LGA Head of News - 020 7664 3333  

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NOTES TO EDITORS

• These findings are based on work undertaken by the Commission’s research department and on our behalf by the Institute of Public Policy Research using the Labour Force Survey and a literature review by the Chartered Institute of Housing. The LGA also undertook polling of local authority housing managers.  The second phase will involve speaking to local authorities in detail about their social housing allocation policies.

• In the study the population is grouped as UK born, foreign born (arrived more than 5 years ago) and foreign born (arrived in last five years). All groups include UK and non-UK citizens.

• Trevor Phillips, the chair of the Commission, announced the inquiry with the LGA in a speech to mark the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All on November 1. At the time he commented:
So I want to propose we commission the best independent study we can by dispassionate academics on whether the housing system is being abused to the detriment of anyone - including white families. If there is evidence that it is, then we have the powers and the mandate to stop the abuse and we will do so. If there is no evidence, then we can properly say that this insinuation should play no part in the local elections or politics henceforth.’

The  Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006, which took over the responsibilities of Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the independent advocate for equality and human rights in Britain. It aims to reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, strengthen good relations between people, and promote and protect human rights.

The  Equality and Human Rights Commission will enforce equality legislation on age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status, and encourage compliance with the Human Rights Act. It will also give advice and guidance to businesses, the voluntary and public sectors, and to individuals.