PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Census data from 2021 reveals 48 percent of social housing (public housing) in London, England, is occupied by households with a foreign-born head, compared to a national average of 19 percent. This costs taxpayers the equivalent of around $4.8 billion annually.
👥 Who’s Involved: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, and foreigners in social housing.
📍 Where & When: London, 2021 Census data.
💬 Key Quote: Robert Jenrick: “This research shows how the huge costs of mass, low-skilled migration are often hidden from the public.”
⚠️ Impact: $4.8 billion in taxpayer costs annually, 35 percent of foreign-born lead tenants in working-age groups are unemployed or economically inactive.
IN FULL:
Nearly half of London’s social housing (public housing) is occupied by foreigners, according to 2021 census data, imposing a significant financial burden on taxpayers. Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows that 48 percent of lead tenants in London’s social housing were born overseas, compared to a national average of 19 percent.
The analysis highlights that 376,700 foreign-born lead tenants in London receive an average discount equivalent to around $15.9k annually compared to private rental costs, resulting in a total taxpayer cost exceeding $4.8 billion annually.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, of the formerly governing Conservative Party, criticized the findings, stating, “This research shows how the huge costs of mass, low-skilled migration are often hidden from the public.” He added, “When you lift up the [hood], it’s clear that the level and composition of immigration have been hugely economically harmful for decades.”
Further analysis revealed that 68 percent of foreign-born lead tenants in London’s social housing hold British passports. This equates to 257,200 individuals who, while born abroad, have British citizenship.
The data also showed that 35 percent of working-age foreign-born lead tenants in London’s social housing are either unemployed or economically inactive despite living in one of Britain’s most productive regions. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) previously reported that low-paid migrant workers cost taxpayers more than $202,000 each by retirement age, rising exponentially as they age.
Separate data from the English Housing Survey indicates ethnic disparities in social housing use, with 48 percent of Black Caribbean households and 40 percent of Bangladeshi households living in taxpayer-subsidized homes, compared to 16 percent of White British households.
