Housing for All commits to deliver 54,000 affordable homes to either purchase or rent between now and end 2030, with 29,000 delivered by end 2026. These homes are being delivered through Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and the Land Development Agency (LDA). Local authorities develop Housing Strategies which include addressing the need for affordable housing in their area, informed by the analysis of the Housing Needs and Demand Assessment (HNDA) tool.
Homes delivered through AHBs and LDA are allocated based on relevant provisions of the Affordable Housing Act 2021.
In the case of affordable purchase homes delivered by the LDA under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, this must be through an arrangement with the relevant local authority in accordance with Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act. This enables a local authority to assess how such delivery fits with the Authority's broader strategy for mixed tenure delivery in the local area. In such a case it is the local authority in question which advertises the homes, accepts applications, assesses eligibility in line with the legislation, implements its Scheme of Priority, and retains the equity share. Where a local authority arranges for the delivery of affordable purchase homes with AHBs, the same applies.
In the case of Cost Rental homes delivered by the LDA or AHBs, the local authority has a consultative role in order to ensure alignment with its broader mixed-tenure delivery objectives, particularly regarding the presence of any social housing element. In such cases, the LDA or the AHB is responsible as the Cost Rental landlord for advertising vacancies, accepting applications, and allocating tenancies to eligible tenants. This is done in accordance with Part 3 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and the Affordable Housing Act 2021 (Cost Rental Letting and Eligibility) Regulations 2021, as recently amended with regard to net household income limits.
