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Social housing in this country dates back to the late 19th century, but the 1919 Housing and Planning Act saw the government embark on the first comprehensive plan to build social housing.
Local authorities had been required by law to provide council housing since 1919 and Lloyd George's "Homes fit for Heroes" campaign sparked by concerns over the poor physical condition of army...
This timeline takes you through the history of social housing, and how we grew from helping to rebuild after World War II to becoming a vital cog in the UK’s housing sector. Select a year from the timeline below or scroll down to see the whole story.
The First World War brought about rapid social, political and economic change, particularly in relation to social housing. The government instituted the 1915 Rent Act, which limited the amount that private landlords could raise their rent.
Its history can be traced back to the post-war period when the country faced an acute housing shortage. Let’s explore how the government responded to this crisis and the various initiatives taken to address the population’s housing needs.
The first effort to provide social housing was the ‘1890 housing for the working classes’ Act. This act granted local authorities power to shut down unhealthy slum housing and made landlords more liable for the health of their tenants, by setting standards of health to be met.
On 22 June 1935, the National Federation of Housing Societies was formally established in London, with 35 founder members at its inauguration. Within a year, membership had grown to almost a hundred.