02 Apr 2025
CIH Cymru sector snapshot report continues to show a Welsh housing workforce at breaking point
Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru’s latest sector snapshot report highlights the impact of stretched budgets and expanding workload on the housing sector workforce. Two-thirds of respondents highlighted the external pressures they are facing are negatively impacting their mental health and wellbeing. The 2025 snapshot also reflects widespread concern that the Welsh Government’s 20,000 affordable homes target won’t be met by the March 2026 deadline.
The sector snapshot report outlines the findings of a survey undertaken by CIH Cymru during February 2025 which sought the views of frontline housing professionals in Wales and is being published during the TAI 2025 conference, at The Vale Resort, Hensol, taking place on Wednesday 2 April and Thursday 3 April
The survey found that although 84 per cent of housing professionals are motivated to work in the sector to make a difference, two thirds also stated that their mental health and wellbeing was negatively impacted by external pressures such as a lack of resources, high workloads and a reducing workforce.
A lack of funding is the key reason 83 per cent of respondents are not confident or unsure that Welsh government’s target of 20,000 new affordable homes will be met by its currently scheduled deadline of 2026. Yet an increase in the supply of homes was seen as the key measure needed to tackle Wales’ rising homelessness levels. Some respondents also felt there was a lack of focus from Welsh government in meeting the target.
Respondents were clear in their key asks of Welsh government. They wanted more funding and for them to listen to the sector, to hear what the sector is telling them about the impact of policy changes. Some were clear that a more joined-up approach was needed to address all the issues facing housing and that this could be achieved with a housing strategy for Wales.
Matt Dicks, national director of CIH Cymru said:
“It is encouraging to see that the majority of respondents to our survey are motivated to work in housing as they want to help people, make a difference and have a positive impact.
In order to do that and provide the best service they can, people working in housing need to be supported and adequately resourced. It is time that we not only thought about providing the homes we need but ensuring our workforce is well resourced and supported to deliver the ambition we share with Welsh government of addressing the housing and homelessness emergency in Wales.”
