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Issue 143: Autumn 2026

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WHQ issue 143, Autumn 2026 cover: Under pressure

Editorial – The cost of home

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The cost of living remains at the forefront of people’s minds, with worries over energy bills and fuel costs back in the headlines. For many households in Wales, there has been little respite from this ongoing cost of living crisis; paying rent, keeping the heating on, and putting food on the table are competing demands, with little left over when something goes wrong.

This issue, WHQ is taking a closer look at how rising prices across the board are impacting housing, exploring private renters’ experiences, the challenges facing young people and the widening gap between housing costs and available support.

David Rowlands of Platfform asks what happens when a prolonged crisis becomes an injustice (page 34), reminding us that a secure home, sufficient food and connection are vital to wellbeing.

We also look at practical work across Wales. Rhea Stevens details how housing associations support tenants through financial hardship (page 36), while ClwydAlyn and Barcud share approaches to affordable food and tenancy sustainment (page 38). Shelter Cymru’s Arian team highlights the difference specialist benefits and debt advice make (page 42). These initiatives show the value of early support.

Making homes warmer and cheaper to run is crucial. Richard Mann also examines rising social housing construction costs and the case for collaboration (page 24).

Elsewhere, Andy Sutton’s piece on retrofit considers whether current investment meets the challenge (page 51) and argues for renewed focus on optimised retrofit, which benefits both climate commitments and household bills. Wendy Dearden addresses pressures from second homes and holiday lets (page 16), while Eleri Williams considers how a community right to buy can empower local residents (page 20). Ligia Teixeira asks if homelessness prevention can become a shared public service responsibility (page 48) in our regular update on the rollout of the Homelessness Act, and Lauren Trevelyan explores using AI responsibly in housing (page 49).

A common thread runs through these pieces: housing affects almost every area of life. The challenge is driving that understanding into the delivery of secure, warm, affordable homes.

SALLY HALES

Editor, WHQ

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