Sharon Keogan criticised the latest NUAC report, arguing its findings expose a deepening housing crisis. She highlighted vacant social homes, long re-letting times, high re-letting costs, widespread private rental failures and falling rent collection, and urged that local councillors be given funding and autonomy.
Vacant social housing and re-letting delays
The NUAC findings show over 4,251 social housing users sat vacant at the end of 2024. Families are sleeping in cars, in emergency accommodations or couchsurfing, while average re-letting times range from 35 to 56 weeks - the longest in over a decade.
Re-letting costs and efficiency
A total of £105 million was spent to re-let just 3,375 units, roughly £31,000 per home. Keogan called the costings inefficient and disgraceful given unmet housing need.
Private rental inspection failures
The report found 84.86% of inspected private rentals failed to meet basic standards, with some counties over 99% non-compliant. She warned tenants are living in damp and unsafe conditions while the government praises its own record.
Rental arrears and rent collection problems
Rent collection rates have fallen as low as 72% in some counties, and local authorities are being expected to pursue arrears without adequate tools, national strategy or targeted support. Keogan said there is no sense of urgency to address these shortfalls.
Calls for funding and local autonomy
She accused the government of centralising control, underfunding and tying the hands of councillors rather than delegating powers. Keogan demanded that councillors be given the funding, autonomy and respect to do the job they were elected to do, closing with the repeated refrain 'Goera maigat.'
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I wish to address the findings of the latest NUAC report. While there are many causes to be optimistic with this good report, I feel it is necessary, considering we are in the midst of a housing crisis, to highlight some of the more alarming findings. Let's look at the facts. Over 4,251 social housing users sat vacant at the end of 2024. Meanwhile, families are sleeping in cars, in emergency accommodations or couchsurfing with no end in sight. The average re-letting time for these houses is between 35 to 56 weeks, the longest in over a decade. And the cost, a staggering £105 million was spent to re-let just 3,375 units. That's just £31,000 per home. And it's not just inefficient, it's disgraceful. In addition, 84.86% of inspected private rentals failed to meet basic standards. In some counties, over 99% were non-compliant. Yet the government pats itself on the back while tenants live in damp and unsafe conditions. And while we're at it, let's talk about rental arrears. Because even when tenants are struggling, the government still expects local authorities to chase payments without giving them the tools to do so. In some counties, rent collection rates have dropped as low as 72%. Yet there's no national strategy, no targeted support and no urgency. The problem is clear. The government neither allocates the resources nor delegates the powers that local authorities need. Instead, it centralises control, ties the hands of councillors and expects miracles from underfunded, overstretched teams. I say enough is enough. It's time to give our councillors the funding, the autonomy and the respect they deserve. Let them do the job they were elected to do. Because right now, the only thing being built is bureaucracy. And the only thing being housed is failure. Goera maigat. Goera maigat.
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