On 14 June 2026, Nigel Farage said that a Reform UK government would stop foreign nationals from getting social housing. Foreign nationals already living in council houses or housing association properties would have three months to find private rental homes or leave the country, according to the BBC.

Social housing means homes provided by councils or charities at below-market rents. The plan would apply to everyone already living in these homes, not just new applicants. Anyone unable to move within three months could be deported.

At the moment, councils can decide who gets social housing, and can favour people with local ties. But they cannot block foreign nationals from applying. Farage's plan would need a new law to work — and would probably end up in court. It might breach the European Convention on Human Rights, which the UK still follows. That agreement says people should be treated fairly and decisions affecting their homes should be made case-by-case, not as blanket rules.

Housing rules are different across the UK. England is run from Westminster. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make their own housing decisions. They could choose not to follow the same plan.

There is a practical issue. Over a million households are on the waiting list for social housing in England alone. The private rental market — the homes people rent from landlords rather than councils — is already very tight. Rents have gone up a lot, and it is hard to find an empty flat or house in many places. The plan does not explain how people could realistically move in three months.

Reform has made immigration and housing its main focus in elections. The party did well enough in 2024 to suggest some voters support tough immigration policies. This announcement fits a pattern: Reform puts forward bold ideas to stand out from Labour and the Conservatives, forcing them to respond.

Legally, this would be complicated. Different laws cover who can rent homes, how immigration works, and who can be deported. Tying deportation to housing status would be new. No cost estimate or detailed assessment came with the announcement, and Reform has not yet shared the full policy plan.