Housing providers responsible for more than 1.7 million homes across the UK are calling on the Government to urgently commit to long-term investment in affordable housing, warning the country’s deepening housing crisis cannot be solved with slow or piecemeal measures.

With more than 1.3 million households in England stuck on waiting lists for a social home, and thousands more trapped in temporary and often unsuitable accommodation, housing leaders say families simply cannot afford to wait for the Government to put together a plan. They are demanding immediate and bold action in the upcoming Spending Review to provide the certainty and funding needed to build the affordable homes the country desperately needs.

In a powerful joint submission to the Government, leading housing associations have come together to call for urgent intervention. They stress that only swift and sustained action can reverse decades of underinvestment, end the housing emergency, and prevent the crisis from worsening.

It marks the first time that housing partnerships across Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the southwest of England have come together in a joint submission to Government.

Nick Atkin, chief executive of Yorkshire Housing, said: “We need urgent and bold action now to provide the homes people desperately need. More than 1.3 million households on waiting lists are being forced into difficult decisions every day. People are stuck in overcrowded, unsuitable, or unaffordable homes, and they cannot wait any longer for the Government to act.

“We need to give housing associations the long-term funding certainty to build the homes people need.”

The submission outlines what is needed to provide the financial stability needed to scale up housebuilding, regenerate communities, and support jobs and economic growth. It proposes reclassifying housing investment as infrastructure spending to break the cycle of stop-start funding that has stalled progress for decades and a new 10-year guaranteed rent settlement that includes convergence.

The leaders are also calling for two simplified funding pots, one for building new homes, and another for improving existing stock, to cut through existing bureaucracy and to deliver change faster.

Research from Shelter and National Housing Federation shows that building 90,000 social rented homes a year could inject £51.2 billion into the economy. Meanwhile, substandard housing is costing the NHS an estimated £1.4 billion annually, a stark reminder of how housing is inseparable from health, education and economic growth.

Charlie Norman, chair of Greater Manchester Housing Providers, said: “We’re urging ministers to treat housing as a major national priority – and not just a side issue. The housing crisis is not going to fix itself. It demands political courage, clarity, and commitment right now.

“The right home is critical for everyone to start well, live well, and age well. Every day of delay means more children growing up in temporary accommodation, more families living in unaffordable private rentals, and more lives limited by poor housing conditions.”

Léann Hearne, chair of Liverpool City Region Housing Associations, said: “A safe, secure home is the foundation for everything, from health and education to economic stability. The housing sector is ready to deliver, but we need long-term certainty and an immediate signal from Government that it understands the urgency.”

Louise Swain, chair of Homes for the South West, added: “This is a pivotal opportunity to turn words into meaningful action. Behind every statistic are real people and families waiting for a safe, affordable place to call home. The Spending Review is the Government’s chance to turn the tide on the housing crisis with a long-term, well-funded plan that meets the scale of need and delivers the homes our communities deserve.”

The full submission is being described as a “game changing opportunity for Government to back a transformative vision”, and the sector stands ready to deliver, if the Government delivers its part.

Read the Spending Review submission in full here.