We are acutely aware of the housing crisis and how it is pricing young people and families out of the housing market.
In Horsham rents have sky-rocketed and house prices are some of the most expensive in the country. The office for National Statistics confirmed that the average house price across Horsham in 2025 was £445, 000. Housing prices in Horsham This may be good news for homeowners and landlords, but we believe that everyone in Horsham has the right to a decent, secure and affordable place to call home.
In the last eleven years Horsham Council has granted planning approval for just three homes for social rent, previously called council housing. This stat is taken from Local authority data: Housing supply – House of Commons Library
We believe that we will only address the crisis of affordability for young people, families and those who want to downsize, through the delivery of a new generation of homes for social rent. This will ease the pressure on the private rented sector and will provide an alternative to home ownership and as a result, both the private rented sector and homes for sale will become more affordable for all.
We will also pursue further reforms in the private rented sector including delivering rent controls.
For too long Conservatives and Lib Dems have accepted the status quo and done nothing to provide homes for young people and families in need of housing. We do not accept this approach and will not ignore the housing needs of all residents and is why we are committed to delivering a new generation of truly affordable homes for social rent.
Don’t be fooled by the headlines in the local paper which proclaim that a development includes 35% affordable housing. None of these homes are for social rent, almost all come under the banner of ‘affordable rent’ which is set at 80% of market rent and in Horsham where private sector rents are so high, this means that the affordable rent is also very high and remain unaffordable to many.
Supporting information reproduced from the Labour Campaign for Council Housing website.
- In July 2023 under a FOI HDC confirmed that it administered £14,739,236 in the preceding calendar year, in housing benefits to those in private and affordable renting sectors. This figure will have only increased.
- In 2024 Horsham District Foodbanks delivered 9,124 emergency food parcels, most of these went to individuals and families in work.
- In the last 11 years HDC have approved just 3 homes for social rent
- Affordable rent is up to 80% of market rent.
- Social rent is usually around 50% of market rent.
- Local Housing allowance for Horsham is set at £1096 and does not cover the cost of renting either in the private sector or for an affordable home.
- Young people are closer to homelessness than home ownership – Shelter September 2025