According to the 2026 financial forecasts of private registered providers from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), social housing landlords in England are planning to invest record amounts in repairs, while also building new homes.

According to the Regulator of Social Housing, the results indicate some anticipated stabilisation of the sector's financial position, though also show that landlords were facing significant financial pressures from the trade-off between more and better social homes.

This year’s Financial Forecast Returns (FFR) data showed aggregate interest cover over the first five years of plans comparable to that in the last set of forecasts. Previously, this metric had been declining.

Key factors in this are a slowing in the rate of increase in repairs and maintenance expenditure combined with increased income growth.

There has also been an increase in development plans over the first five years, which is reversing a trend seen in recent forecasts.

A bigger increase is being seen over the ten-year term of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP), reflecting bids for grant that were being made at the time the plans were submitted.
 

However, in order to fund these plans, there has been a bigger increase in debt compared to previous years, with £54.7bn of new borrowing required over the first five years of plans and additional grant of £16.3bn forecast over the same period.

There is still variation across the sector with the largest providers generally in a tighter financial position.

RSH Director of Strategy Will Perry said: “The sector’s long-term ambition is clear: more investment in existing homes, more new homes and more for social rent. These are not easy trade-offs, and the financial pressures need to be managed really carefully.

“Our job is to make sure landlords are alert to the risks and have the transparency, resilience and strategic focus needed to navigate them while delivering for tenants.”