CIH submission to the 2025 Autumn Budget: Building a housing system that works for everyone

CIH has submitted its recommendations ahead of the Autumn Budget, urging the UK government to take urgent action to address immediate pressures in the housing system while building on the foundations of recent investment commitments. 

We welcome the government’s pledge in the June Spending Review to deliver 1.5 million new homes, alongside £39 billion investment in social and affordable housing. But while this long-term commitment is vital, millions of people face urgent housing pressures today.

Homelessness is at record levels, with over 131,000 households — including almost 170,000 children — stuck in unsuitable temporary accommodation. Supported housing providers face unprecedented strain, while the private rented sector remains unaffordable for many on low incomes. 

To ensure the housing system supports a healthy society and thriving economy, CIH is calling on the government to use the Autumn Budget to: 

• Invest in supported housing to meet rising levels of need, sustain vital services, and reduce pressure on health and social care
• Invest in homelessness prevention by reforming social security – including restoring local housing allowance to at least the 30th percentile of local rents
• Invest in homelessness support to address the immediate crisis in temporary accommodation and provide stable funding for frontline services
• Invest in driving up the quality of existing homes, ensuring safety, decency, and energy efficiency alongside new supply
• Reform the tax system as it relates to housing, making it fairer, more progressive, and focused on better use of existing housing stock.

Rachael Williamson, director of policy, communications and external affairs at CIH, said: “A safe, decent, and affordable home is the foundation for health, wellbeing, and opportunity. The Autumn Budget is a chance for government to act decisively — restoring support for those on the lowest incomes, sustaining vital housing and homelessness services, and investing in the homes we need for the future. Without urgent action, the pressures on households, councils, and public services will only grow.”