Homes England has launched the bidding process for its Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) 2026-2036, a significant government initiative aimed at accelerating the delivery of social rent, affordable rent, and shared ownership homes across England. This ten-year programme forms a central part of the government’s £39 billion investment to boost social and affordable housing, with Homes England managing at least £27 billion of this funding.

Programme Overview and Objectives

The Social and Affordable Homes Programme is designed to deliver hundreds of thousands of new homes over the next decade, addressing housing needs while fostering sustainable and thriving communities. The refreshed programme places a strong emphasis on increasing the supply of homes for social rent, promoting mixed-tenure developments, and upholding high standards in design, safety, and sustainability.

Homes England has introduced updated bidding guidance to assist registered providers in preparing robust proposals that align with both local housing strategies and national priorities. This guidance aims to clarify the programme’s expectations and support partners in submitting deliverable, high-quality schemes that offer strong value for money.

Funding and Access Routes

The substantial funding available through Homes England underpins the government’s ambition to achieve the largest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. Providers can access the programme via two main routes. The first is Continuous Market Engagement (CME), which allows partners to submit bids on a scheme-by-scheme basis throughout the programme’s duration. This flexible approach enables Homes England to respond to specific local housing needs while providing greater certainty around grant funding.

The second route is the Strategic Partnership Framework, which offers long-term funding certainty for partners capable of delivering at pace and scale. This framework supports larger funding packages and ambitious delivery programmes, facilitating accelerated construction of affordable homes.

Government Priorities and Requirements

A key requirement of the programme is that at least 60% of homes delivered by partners must be for social rent. This stipulation underscores the government’s commitment to prioritising the most affordable tenures within the housing sector. The programme also encourages mixed-tenure developments, which can contribute to balanced and inclusive communities.

Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook highlighted the significance of the programme, stating: “Today marks an important milestone in the government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation as we open our new Social and Affordable Homes Programme for business.” He further emphasised the call for “bold, ambitious bids” to kickstart a decade of renewal in social and affordable housing.

Homes England’s Role and Vision

Amy Rees CB, Chief Executive of Homes England, described the programme’s launch as a “significant step in accelerating the delivery of much-needed affordable housing across England.” She stressed the importance of high-quality, deliverable schemes that prioritise social rent and demonstrate strong value for money. Rees also highlighted the broader ambition to reshape the future of affordable housing, contributing to the government’s target of building 1.5 million new homes during this parliamentary term and creating vibrant, thriving communities.

What this means for landlords

For landlords and letting agents, the Social and Affordable Homes Programme signals a renewed focus on expanding the affordable housing stock, particularly social rent properties. This could influence local housing markets by increasing the availability of affordable homes and potentially easing demand pressures in certain areas. Providers participating in the programme will be expected to maintain high standards in design and sustainability, which may set new benchmarks for quality in affordable housing developments.

Landlords should monitor developments closely, as the programme’s emphasis on mixed-tenure schemes may create opportunities for collaboration and investment in diverse housing projects. The long-term funding certainty offered through the Strategic Partnership Framework could also encourage more ambitious developments, potentially impacting the wider rental market and community dynamics.

Source: Based on reporting from Homes England

TLA Training Academy

The Landlord Association has launched its new Training Academy for UK landlords, providing structured guidance, compliance education, and practical knowledge to support landlords at every stage. Members can now complete the programme and become TLA Certified Landlords at no additional cost as part of their membership.

Landlords can explore the Academy here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/tla-academy/

Those looking to join and access the full training and certification can register here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/landlord-association-membership-uk/

TLA update

The Landlord Association is currently onboarding new service providers into its Trusted Partner Hub, a new initiative designed to support landlords, tenants, letting agents, and property managers with vetted, high-quality services. As one of the fastest growing landlord associations in the UK, TLA offers partners direct access to an engaged and active member base at the point of need. Service providers across legal, maintenance, insurance, finance, mortgages, tenant screening, and property services can register their interest here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/become-a-tla-service-partner/