Public confidence in the Labour government’s handling of housing policy has fallen to 17%, down four percentage points from May 2025, according to new polling conducted by Ipsos.
The figures highlight the challenges facing ministers as the government works towards its target of delivering 1.5 million new homes during the current parliament, alongside planning reforms intended to accelerate development and address housing supply constraints.
Housing delivery under pressure
Labour entered office with commitments to boost homeownership, increase housebuilding levels and strengthen renters’ rights. The government has moved forward with rental sector reform, including proposals to abolish Section 21 no-fault evictions.
However, housebuilding levels have slowed, planning approvals remain subdued and mortgage affordability continues to affect first-time buyers, despite some easing in interest rates. Affordability pressures, rising rents and housing shortages persist across large parts of the country.
Fragmented political landscape
The polling reveals no clear consensus among voters on which party has the strongest housing strategy. Around 25% of respondents said Reform UK would do a better job on housing than Labour, while 23% selected the Green Party and 22% chose the Conservatives. No data was provided for other political parties.
The fragmented response reflects broader public dissatisfaction with housing delivery across successive governments, particularly concerning affordability, rental costs and access to homeownership.
Ben Marshall, research director at Ipsos in the UK, noted that recent polling shows this segment of voters is growing more open to considering alternative parties.
Implications for the property industry
For property industry professionals, the polling data is likely to increase pressure on the government to demonstrate measurable progress on planning reform, housing delivery and transaction activity over the coming year.
While other countries have announced substantial property expansion programmes, the UK faces distinct challenges in balancing housing supply targets with planning constraints and market conditions.
The government’s ability to translate policy commitments into tangible outcomes will be closely monitored by investors, developers and industry stakeholders as the parliament progresses. Market participants will be watching for signs of improvement in planning approvals, construction activity and transaction volumes as indicators of policy effectiveness.
