England’s rural communities are currently facing a significant crisis due to a severe shortage of affordable housing, as detailed in a new report by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
The report, entitled ‘Unraveling a crisis: the state of rural affordable housing in England’, launched today, emphasises the dire impacts of this crisis on rural communities and outlines necessary solutions.
This crisis is primarily driven by record house prices, stagnant wages, and an increasing number of second homes and short-term lets, resulting in extensive social housing waiting lists and forcing residents out of their familiar communities.
The countryside is experiencing not only a 40% rise in homelessness over the past five years but also a drain of skills, economic activity, and crucial public services.
There is a significant disparity between rural and urban housing, with rural house prices being higher and rural wages much lower. Over the past five years, rural house prices have increased almost twice as fast as those in urban areas. The average rural home now costs £419,000, a 29% increase, while rural earnings have only risen by 19% to £25,600.
The report highlights an alarming backlog in social housing, with more than 300,000 individuals on waiting lists for social rented housing in rural England. At the current construction rate, it would take 89 years to provide homes to everyone on the waiting list. Furthermore, the current definition of ‘affordable’ housing – up to 80% of market value – often does not equate to affordability in many rural areas.
Local authorities have been unable to replace social housing sold under the Right to Buy policy, contributing to this housing shortage. The situation is worsened by the increase in short-term lets and second homes, as seen in areas like Cornwall and Devon, where thousands of properties are being used for short-term lets rather than as permanent residences.
Roger Mortlock, chief executive of CPRE, said: “Decades of inaction have led to an affordable housing crisis that is ripping the soul from our rural communities. Solutions do exist and the next government must set and deliver ambitious targets for new, genuinely affordable and social rented rural housing, curbing the boom of second homes and short-term lets.”
To address this crisis, CPRE’s report includes several urgent recommendations for the Government.
These include redefining ‘affordable housing’ in relation to local incomes, increasing the quota of genuinely affordable housing in national planning policy, and setting ambitious targets for social rented home construction.
Additionally, the report calls for support for local communities in developing affordable housing, a register for second homes and short-term lets, and extending restrictions on the resale of ‘affordable housing’ in smaller parishes.
