Tenants have been warned to know their rights following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement of a £2billion investment in 18,000 new social and affordable homes.

In her Spring Statement, Reeves said the extra cash would be spent during 2026-27 as a down payment on the Government’s ambition to build 1.5 million homes in England during this Parliament, supported by reforms in its Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Labelling it “a bridge to a new programme”, she said the Government would follow this in June with further announcements on wider long-term investment into social and affordable housing through the Spending Review, to give social housing providers stability and confidence to continue investing in their development pipelines.

This investment is expected to deliver up to 18,000 new homes and will help unlock development on sites that are ready to go in areas such as Manchester and Liverpool.

Reeves also pledged a £625million package for skills in construction, which is expected to provide up to 60,000 more skilled workers this Parliament to support the Government’s housing ambitions.

Renters' Rights Bill

Daniel McAfee, of Lawhive, warns that for tenants in these new affordable homes, understanding their rights under both housing policy and the Renters’ Rights Bill will be crucial.

“Many will need guidance on security of tenure, protection against unfair eviction, and rent review clauses,” he explained.

“Legal assistance becomes particularly valuable when navigating notice periods, challenging potentially unlawful evictions, or addressing harassment from landlords.”

For many, the challenge isn’t just securing housing but maintaining it long-term, says McAfee.

“Unexpected service charge increases, management fees, and maintenance costs can threaten housing stability. Having access to housing law expertise becomes crucial when navigating local authority waitlist policies or addressing potential discrimination in the allocation system.”

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