No, the U.K. government is not prioritizing housing for immigrants over locals

What is the claim?

Social media users from the U.K. have claimed in viral posts that the U.K. government plans to "deploy asylum seekers" across the country and that "immigrants will be given priority over British locals when it comes to finding housing." One such Facebook post from August 24 has nearly 100 shares while another viral post on X (formerly Twitter) with a similar caption has been viewed more than 60 million views so far. Archived versions of such posts can be viewed here, here, here, and here. 

Screenshots of social media posts falsely claiming that the U.K. government is prioritising immigrants over locals for housing. (Source: Screenshots/Facebook/X/Modified by Logically Facts)

In January 2024, the Conservative government, led by former U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, proposed a scheme called "British homes for British workers" with a "U.K. connection test." Under this scheme, non-U.K. nationals would only become eligible for social housing after 10 years of "lawful residence" in the country, with exemptions for EEA, Swiss, and Irish citizens. This plan was later dropped by the new Keir Starmer-led Labor government as they were "unnecessary, unfeasible, risked harming communities, or costly."

However, there is no evidence that the dropping of this plan means that migrants will be prioritized over locals for housing. Official figures show that existing measures ensure that 90 percent of the new lettings go to British nationals. 

What are the facts?

The U.K. Government response to the consultation on changes to social housing allocation tests pointed out that existing measures already give priority to British nationals, as under the current conditions "90 percent of social lets are allocated to U.K. nationals, and the remaining 10 percent are allocated to EEA, Swiss, and Irish citizens or migrants in severe housing need," it said.

It also added, "Migrants arriving in the U.K. on student or work visas, as well as those arriving in the country illegally with no leave to remain, will remain ineligible for an allocation of social housing, as they are now."

On the previous government's proposal to conduct "a series of tests to determine who should qualify for an allocation of social housing within a specific local area," the U.K. government response also pointed out that "councils already have necessary powers to enact such tests and most are doing so: according to government statistics 89 percent of councils have a local connection test and/or a residency test in place."

What has the government said?

Samuel Herrera, press officer at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, told Logically Facts that the claim is incorrect.

"As a result of a failure over many years to build enough social rented homes, they are scarcer than ever, and so it is essential that we allocate them fairly and efficiently to those most in need. This government is clear that the only way to meet the demand for genuinely affordable social rented homes is to build more of them, which is why we are committed to delivering the biggest boost in affordable and social housing in a generation," Herrera told Logically Facts.

Herrera also explained the reason behind the decision to drop the scheme, telling Logically Facts that the "proposals would not only fail to improve how social housing is allocated but would cost taxpayers a fortune, swell the number of people in expensive temporary accommodation, and increase the risk of harm to the public."

What have experts said?

Dr. Ben Brindle, a researcher from the Migration Observatory, University of Oxford, told Logically Facts that migrants living in the U.K. on temporary immigration statuses, such as work, study, or family visas, are not eligible for social housing

"This is because they are subject to a condition called 'No Recourse to Public Funds' which prevents access to state-funded welfare. However, these restrictions may not apply in cases where a migrant with NRPF is living in a household with people who are not subject to NRPF," Dr. Brindle told Logically Facts. 

"Among people who are eligible for social housing, local authorities do not prioritize assistance on the basis of nationality or immigration status. Instead, social housing is prioritized on the basis of need. For example, priority may be given to people who are pregnant or are at risk of becoming homeless," he added. 

British writer and lecturer Kenal Malik had earlier quoted a House of Commons document to point out that 90 percent of new lettings for social housing go to British nationals, and 82 percent to white people. Malik wrote in The Guardian, "What prevents British workers from having British homes is not queue-jumping immigrants but the failure of the authorities to build sufficient housing. Yet the myth persists that migrants "flood" into social housing, depriving British workers of their rightful dues, a myth nurtured by politicians, pundits, and academics."

Dr. Regina Serpa, Lecturer in Housing Studies at the University of Stirling, added, "There are already many barriers in place to stop migrants from accessing social housing. Foreign-born nationals make up a very small proportion of social renters. "British homes for British workers" is a policy looking for a problem."

Dr. Serpa also pointed out that "around 80 percent of migrants who have lived in the U.K. for less than five years live in the private sector compared to 20 percent of the U.K.-born population," according to U.K. parliament data.

The verdict

In conclusion, there is no evidence to support the claim that migrants will be prioritized over locals for housing under the new U.K. government. Official data confirms that current policies ensure 90 percent of new lettings are allocated to British nationals. This was corroborated by various independent experts as well, who cited official figures related to housing and migration in the country.