A new survey by CIH Cymru reveals a sector and a workforce under more pressure than ever. Cerys Clark reports.
Over February 2025 CIH Cymru held its latest sector snapshot survey. Just like in previous surveys we were seeking views on the key pressures our housing professionals were facing, whether key government targets would be met and the one thing they would ask Welsh Government to change. The results once again showed that people work in the sector to make a positive impact on people’s lives and the communities they work in.
Other narratives have also continued, with the results echoing views seen in previous sector snapshot reports. It’s clear that the number one priority of respondents remains an increased supply of social homes, and that this is key to tackle rising homelessness in Wales. Yet there seems to be little confidence that the 20,000 low carbon homes at social rent target will be met. This survey saw 83 per cent of respondents stating they were unsure or were not confident that the target would be met. When we looked at just those respondents in senior leadership 83 per cent were not confident or unsure the target would be met. In 2024 it was 70 per cent of senior leadership respondents.
A LACK OF FOCUS
The main reasons given for the target not being met are ones that have been heard repeated by the sector. There is a lack of funding, issues with the planning system, a shortage of land and a skills shortage. The 2025 sector snapshot also highlighted the impact of implementing the Welsh Housing Quality Standard and developing the homes we need, with some respondents saying that the costs associated with WHQS 2023 could stifle development. Respondents also felt that there was a lack of focus from Welsh Government and concerns raised about it fully understanding the complexity of the issues.
It is perhaps unsurprising then that the main pressure for housing professionals remains a lack of resources, with 53 per cent of respondents outlining this as the key pressure. In 2024 it was 40 percent. This illustrates the ongoing impact that the cost-of-living crisis and inflationary pressures are having on the housing sector in Wales. Respondents are also experiencing pressure from high workloads yet at the same time the workforce is reducing.
Policy changes are also proving to be a pressure for housing associations. Respondents highlighted that often new policies were introduced by Welsh Government before the previous ones were allowed time to be implemented, or conflicted other policies they were expected to work to.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Perhaps unsurprisingly this pressure is having an impact on housing professionals’ mental health and wellbeing. The 2025 sector snapshot showed that 66 per cent of respondents were experiencing some impact on their mental health and wellbeing. In 2024 this was 80 per cent. Whilst the proportion of respondents stating their mental health and wellbeing is negatively impacted has reduced in 2025, unlike in 2024 not one respondent in 2025 stated there was no pressure in their role. One respondent summed up the issues:
‘The workload has always been excessive in social housing due to the reactive nature of the work that we do and the ever-changing external environment. I think that the expectation on social housing providers is ridiculous, and we have gone far beyond having to deliver traditional landlord services. Housing staff make up for the shortfall in service provision by social services, the police, the local authority etc. Housing staff are left carrying multiple issues within our stock because other agencies are able to walk away. There should be far more accountability by other service providers and more collaborative working. I think the role of social housing providers in Wales should be completely reviewed and re-specified to ensure that we and all other agencies are clear about what our function actually is and not what they and our tenants think it is. The expectation is massive and ever growing and staff are being subjected to more and more abuse because they are unable to meet the expectations that have grown exponentially.’
The 2025 sector snapshot echoed the sentiments of previous sector snapshots. The survey suggests that the sector’s view remains clear that more funding is needed if we are to meet the joint ambitions of developing the homes we need and ensuring our existing homes are brought up to standard. The sector snapshot respondents also want Welsh Government to listen to them more closely. The ending homelessness action plan includes an action to create a valued housing workforce. A key part of this is listening to the sector an acting on the concerns raised.
People work in the housing sector to make a difference, but they need to be supported and adequately resourced to ensure that they can provide the best service they can. As put by one respondent, housing is not just about the building, it is about the people in it. It is time that we not only think about providing the homes we need but also about ensuring our workforce is well resourced and supported to become the valued workforce that Welsh Government sees as a key action in ending homelessness in Wales.
Cerys Clark is policy and public affairs manager at CIH Cymru