Housing in the United Kingdom

Terraced housing in Wolverhampton
Typical Victorian terraced housing in Hampshire.

Housing in the United Kingdom represents the largest non-financial asset class in the UK; its overall net value passed the £5 trillion mark in 2014.[1] Housing includes modern and traditional styles. About 30% of homes are owned outright by their occupants, and a further 40% are owner-occupied on a mortgage. About 18% are social housing of some kind, and the remaining 12% are privately rented.[2]

The UK ranks in the top half in Europe with regard to rooms per person, amenities, and quality of housing.[3][4] However, the cost of housing as a proportion of income is higher than average among EU countries,[3] and the increasing cost of housing in the UK may constitute a housing crisis for some, especially in London.[5][6][7]

Housing is the jurisdiction of the Minister of State for Housing, Planning and Building Safety.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference NationalBalance was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Diaz, R. "Housing Tenure Factsheet" (PDF). shelter.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b "OECD Better Life Index". www.OECDBetterLifeIndex.org. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  4. ^ "First European Quality of Life Survey: Social dimensions of housing" (PDF). Europa.eu. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  5. ^ "350,000 UK households will be unable to rent or buy without help by 2020". Independent.co.uk. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Housing crisis overtakes transport as biggest concern for Londoners". Evening Standard. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  7. ^ "The human cost of Britain's housing crisis". The Guardian. 13 October 2015. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Minister of State (Housing and Planning) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2023.