THE government was urged to build more social housing today by an all-party group of MPs.

It is time to end the “chronic shortage” of social housing by investing in a building programme, the Commons levelling up, housing and communities committee said in a report.

Repeating a call the same committee made four years ago, it demanded the government acts to deliver 90,000 new homes a year.

And it warned that the social housing providers are presently under serious financial pressure.

“The sector has been presented with massive bills for decarbonisation, fire safety and regenerating old homes.

“At the same time, the maximum rent social housing providers can charge has been unexpectedly capped by the government,” the report said.

As a result, providers have cut the amount they plan to spend on building new social homes.

“This comes at a time when the country needs to build significantly more social housing and if this continues it will present a major problem for individuals that need social housing,” the report said.

The MPs called for an end to the disparity between the financial support offered to private landlords to carry out fire safety work on properties and the lack of it for social housing providers.

“There is no justification for private-sector landlords to be treated more favourably,” the committee’s report said.

“Social housing providers must have exactly the same access to funds for building safety remediations.”

The committee also urged ministers to give a “clear direction” for the sector, including targets for social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership.

Committee chairman Labour MP Clive Betts said: “The social housing sector is crucial for providing shelter and support for millions of households.

“More social homes are needed. The government must act to fix this situation by committing to focus investment on building the social homes the country needs.”

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils, said: “Long-term certainty on powers and funding could help councils deliver an ambitious build programme of 100,000 high-quality, climate-friendly social homes a year.”

Andy Hulme, chief executive of housing provider The Hyde Group, said: “We need to be building around 90,000 more socially rented homes every year to meet existing need.

“But to get anywhere near this we need more public investment which will give the sector confidence and unlock an even larger amount of private investment.”