Housing Polling 2026
74% say Britain has a housing crisis. Renters are the most politically disaffected group. Labour leads trust at just 24% — with 37% trusting nobody. Average house price: 9× earnings nationally, 14× in London. The housing crisis is reshaping generational politics.
The Housing Crisis in Numbers — 2026
Housing has become one of the most politically charged issues in British politics. 74% of UK adults say Britain has a housing crisis — a figure that cuts across party lines, age groups, and regions. The defining characteristic of the housing debate is that it creates genuine economic losers: renters who cannot afford to buy, young people locked out of the property market, and workers unable to live near their jobs. Average house prices nationally are now approximately 9× median annual earnings; in London the ratio reaches 14:1.
The political salience of housing has grown as homeownership rates have fallen. In 2003, 59% of 25–34 year olds owned their own home. By 2026 that figure has fallen to 32%. This creates a growing cohort of renters — often younger, urban, and graduate — who experience the housing crisis directly and who are increasingly sceptical that any political party will deliver meaningful change for them. The political dilemma is stark: policies that help renters can reduce house prices, threatening the asset wealth of the homeowning majority who make up 65% of the adult electorate and turn out to vote at higher rates.
Key housing poll findings — 2026
- 74% say Britain has a housing crisis — up from 62% in 2019
- 52% support Labour’s 1.5 million new homes target
- 71% support building more social housing
- 64% support stronger renters’ rights / no-fault eviction ban
- 61% support abolishing leasehold (replacing with commonhold)
- 54% support rent controls in high-cost areas
- Only 32% of 25–34 year olds own their home (down from 59% in 2003)
- 37% trust no party on housing — highest “none” figure of any major issue
Homeownership Rate Decline: The Political Context
The collapse of homeownership among young adults is the demographic driver of housing’s rising political salience. The decline is sharpest among 25–34 year olds, who moved from majority homeowners in 2003 to a minority in 2026.
| Age group | Own home 2003 | Own home 2026 | Change | Political impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25–34 | 59% | 32% | −27pp | Biggest shift; renter-majority age group now |
| 35–44 | 71% | 52% | −19pp | Millennials hit hardest; many still renting at 40 |
| 45–54 | 78% | 71% | −7pp | Less affected; bought before peak price rise |
| 55–64 | 77% | 76% | −1pp | Largely unchanged; most bought in 1990s–2000s |
| 65+ | 75% | 79% | +4pp | High ownership; benefited from long-run price rise |
ONS English Housing Survey data, composite 2003 & 2024–26 estimates. % owner-occupied (owned outright or with mortgage).
Housing Policy Polling: What Voters Support
| Policy | Support | Oppose | Key split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build more social / council housing | 71% | 12% | Cross-partisan majority; Reform voters 64% |
| Stronger renters’ rights (no-fault eviction ban) | 64% | 19% | Renters 78%, homeowners 54% |
| Abolish leasehold; replace with commonhold | 61% | 14% | Leaseholders 84% support |
| Rent controls in high-cost areas | 54% | 29% | Young voters 63%; over-55 owners 31% |
| Reform planning for 1.5m homes target | 52% | 28% | Renters 68%, South East owners 39% |
| Build on grey belt (brownfield) | 61% | 18% | Broad support: low-quality land only |
| Build on green belt near train stations | 41% | 42% | Evenly split; strong NIMBY resistance |
| Compulsorily purchase developable land | 34% | 46% | Opposed by owners; supported by renters |
| Reduce stamp duty for first-time buyers | 67% | 15% | Broad cross-party backing |
Source: YouGov/Ipsos composite, May 2026.
The Renter-Owner Divide
Housing is the issue where the interests of renters and homeowners diverge most sharply. Policies that help renters — rent controls, more social housing, planning reform that increases supply and lowers prices — can hurt the asset values of the homeowning majority. With 65% of adults still owning their home, the electoral arithmetic has historically favoured homeowner interests.
Private & Social Renters
Growing group, increasing political salience. 18% trust Labour on housing, 27% trust nobody. Most supportive of all supply and tenant-protection policies. Strongest Green and Labour base among younger renters. 54% have spent more than 40% of net income on rent in the past year.
Homeowners
Declining share but still electoral majority. More likely to oppose planning reform and supply increases that could reduce property values. More likely to vote Conservative or Reform UK. 29% trust Labour on housing; 24% trust Conservatives. 42% prioritise protecting neighbourhood character over new building.
Housing Affordability: Regional Breakdown
| Region | Avg house price | Price:income ratio | % say crisis exists | Support 1.5m target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £530k | 14:1 | 87% | 64% |
| South East | £390k | 11:1 | 81% | 47% |
| East England | £340k | 9:1 | 76% | 51% |
| South West | £320k | 9:1 | 78% | 54% |
| East Midlands | £250k | 7:1 | 69% | 56% |
| North West | £220k | 6:1 | 67% | 59% |
| Yorkshire | £210k | 6:1 | 65% | 57% |
| Scotland | £195k | 6:1 | 64% | 58% |
| North East | £175k | 5:1 | 58% | 61% |
ONS house price data Q1 2026; YouGov regional polling composite, May 2026. Interestingly, support for Labour’s 1.5m homes target is slightly higher in cheaper northern regions, where homeowners are less threatened by supply-side price pressure.
Most Trusted Party on Housing
Most trusted party on housing. YouGov, May 2026.
37% trust no party — the highest ‘none’ figure for any major policy area.
First-time buyer polling
- 71% of under-35 renters say they may never own
- 54% have delayed having children due to housing costs
- 67% support stamp duty abolition for first-time buyers
- 48% say they would need a family inheritance to buy
- 39% say they have considered leaving their city/town to afford housing
YouGov/Shelter composite, April–May 2026. Among 25–44 non-homeowners.
Trust by tenure
- Private renters: Labour 18%, None 27%
- Social renters: Labour 31%, None 24%
- Homeowners: Lab 22%, Con 14%, None 42%
Even Labour’s own voters are deeply sceptical about housing delivery.
Explore More
Young Voter Polling
68% of under-35s cite housing as their top concern — the generational vote shift driven by the housing crisis.
Cost of Living Polling
Rent and mortgage costs are central to household financial pressure. 58% cite housing costs as a major concern.
Welfare Polling
Housing benefit, Universal Credit, and the welfare safety net for renters who cannot buy. Policy polling data.
Labour Polling
Labour leads housing trust at 24% but 37% trust nobody. How Labour’s 1.5m homes target polls across demographics.
Green Party Polling
Greens are the second most trusted party on housing among renters. Social housing revolution as a Green policy plank.
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Browse all polling topic deep-dives — NHS, immigration, economy, climate and more.
What does polling show about the housing crisis?
74% of UK adults say Britain has a housing crisis in 2026, up from 62% in 2019. The perception is sharpest among 25–44 year olds (83%), who are most likely to be locked out of homeownership. Average house prices are 9× median earnings nationally and 14× in London. Only 32% of 25–34 year olds now own their home, down from 59% in 2003. Young voter housing polling →
Do voters support Labour’s 1.5 million homes target?
52% support the target, with strongest backing from 25–44 year olds (64%) and renters (68%). Opposition is concentrated among homeowners in the South East (39% opposed) who cite green belt and local character concerns. Support is paradoxically somewhat higher in northern regions where house prices are lower and homeowners feel less threatened by increased supply.
Which party do voters trust most on housing?
Labour leads at 24%, but 37% trust no party on housing — the highest ‘none’ figure of any major policy area. Among private renters, only 18% trust Labour and 27% trust nobody. This reflects deep scepticism that politicians can deliver housing reform against the interests of the homeowning majority who dominate the electoral roll. Labour polling →
What housing policies are most popular?
The three most popular housing policies are: more social housing (71%), stronger renters’ rights / no-fault eviction ban (64%), and abolishing leasehold (61%). Rent controls poll at 54% support. Planning reform for new homes is popular at 52% but more contested — building on grey/brownfield land (61% support) polls far better than building on the green belt (41%).
How have house prices and rents changed since 2021?
Private rents have risen 22% nationally since 2021, with London rents up 28%. Average house prices remain at approximately 9× median earnings nationally despite modest corrections in late 2023. 71% of under-35 renters say they may never own a home, and 54% say they have delayed having children due to housing costs. The cumulative cost burden on renters — with rising rents combined with general inflation — has been severe. Cost of living polling →
Does the renter-owner divide affect housing politics?
Dramatically. Renters (35% of households) support rent controls at 78%, while homeowners only support them at 39%. Supply-side policies that increase housing stock and moderate prices are popular with renters but opposed by homeowners who see them as a threat to their asset values. Since homeowners are 65% of adults and vote at higher rates, the electoral arithmetic has historically favoured homeowner interests — one reason why house building targets have been missed for decades. Young voter polling →