Social housing & council homes map
How much of a neighbourhood is social housing — homes rented from a council or a housing association? This map shades every UK census small-area by its social-rented share, so you can read council-housing patterns street by street before you move.
What the map shows
The default Social housing layer colours 239,023 census small-areas (Output Areas, or Data Zones in Northern Ireland) by the share of households in the social-rented sector. Darker blue means more council houses and housing-association homes. Search an address to zoom straight to its street and read the pattern around it.
Council houses and housing-association homes
“Social housing” covers both council housing (rented from a local authority) and housing-association homes — together, the social-rented tenure recorded by the census. In England and Wales the two are almost evenly split: 49% of social households rent from the council and 51% from a housing association. Scotland and Northern Ireland report one combined figure; in Northern Ireland the Housing Executive is the largest social landlord.
Social housing in each UK nation
| Nation | Social housing | Social households |
|---|---|---|
| England | 17.1% | 4,005,807 |
| Wales | 16.5% | 222,062 |
| Scotland | 22.5% | 564,287 |
| Northern Ireland | 15.3% | 117,498 |
Share of all households, 2021 Census (2022 in Scotland). UK: 17.5%.
How to apply for social housing
Social homes are let through waiting lists, and each nation runs its own:
- England: join your local council’s housing register; many councils also let homes on behalf of housing associations. GOV.UK: council housing
- Wales: apply to your council; for housing-association homes, apply through the council or to the association directly. GOV.WALES
- Scotland: apply to the council and to housing associations directly, or through a common housing register where your area has one. mygov.scot
- Northern Ireland: one waiting list for the Housing Executive and housing associations. Housing Executive
The map shows where social homes are, not which are free; waiting times depend on local demand and on how each council prioritises need.
Browse every council
Prefer a ranked list? Browse social housing by local authority — all 374 UK councils ordered by their social-housing share, each with its own figures.
Share of households in social housing: top and bottom 10 councils
Highest share
| 1 | Hackney | 40.5% |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Islington | 40.2% |
| 3 | Southwark | 39.7% |
| 4 | Tower Hamlets | 35.9% |
| 5 | Glasgow City | 34.8% |
| 6 | Camden | 33.7% |
| 7 | West Dunbartonshire | 33.7% |
| 8 | Lambeth | 33.6% |
| 9 | Barking and Dagenham | 31.5% |
| 10 | Greenwich | 31.0% |
Lowest share
| 1 | Castle Point | 5.5% |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Wyre | 7.6% |
| 3 | Wokingham | 7.7% |
| 4 | Oadby and Wigston | 7.9% |
| 5 | Ribble Valley | 8.0% |
| 6 | Rochford | 8.1% |
| 7 | Tendring | 8.1% |
| 8 | Fareham | 8.1% |
| 9 | Blaby | 8.2% |
| 10 | Torbay | 8.3% |
2021–22 Census, all 374 UK councils. Ranked across 374 councils; the low end counts up from the bottom. See every council ranked.
Common questions
What counts as social housing?
Homes rented from a council (local authority) or from a housing association — together, the “social rented” tenure recorded by the census. It does not include private renting, shared ownership or owner-occupied homes.
How much of the UK is social housing?
17.5% of UK households lived in social housing at the 2021–22 Census. The share varies enormously by place — from 40.5% in Hackney down to 5.5% in Castle Point.
Which UK council has the most social housing?
Hackney has the highest share of any UK local authority, with 40.5% of households in social housing. See the full ranking of all 374 councils.
What is the difference between council housing and housing association homes?
Both are social housing, let at below-market rents to people on the waiting list. Council homes are owned by the local authority; housing-association homes by non-profit landlords regulated by the government. In England and Wales 49% of social households rent from a council.
Which UK nation has the most social housing?
Scotland, where 22.5% of households rent socially, followed by England (17.1%), Wales (16.5%) and Northern Ireland (15.3%).
How do I apply for a council house?
In England and Wales, apply to your local council’s housing register; in Scotland, to the council and housing associations or a common housing register; in Northern Ireland, to the Housing Executive’s waiting list.
Where does the social housing data come from?
The 2021–22 Census: ONS table TS054 for England & Wales, National Records of Scotland table UV404, and NISRA Data Zone tenure for Northern Ireland — all open data under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Other layers
UK schools map · Nursery & pre-school map · Crime & anti-social behaviour map · Noise & sound pollution map · Parks & green space map · House prices per m² & sq ft map · Deprivation map (whole UK) · Broadband speed map · Social housing by council