The November 2025 Budget set out increased long-term public spending, new welfare commitments and further investment in housing and infrastructure. For organisations across social housing, supported living and property management, the Budget doesn’t rewrite the rulebook - but it does reshape the environment in which executive teams will need to deliver.
Below is a streamlined view of the key measures and their leadership implications.
Key housing & welfare measures
10-year social rent settlement (2026–2036) with CPI +1% increases and a future rent convergence framework.
Continued investment in social and affordable housing, including funding for planners to accelerate supply.
Supported housing welfare changes to reduce the “cliff edge” for residents who increase their working hours.
No new ring-fenced supported housing funding, despite ongoing sector pressures.
Warm Homes Plan and retrofit support, incentivising energy efficiency improvements at scale.
High Value Council Tax Surcharge on £2m+ homes from 2028.
Property income tax rises from April 2027, reducing net returns for landlords.
Business rates revaluation from 2026.
National Living Wage increases affecting labour-intensive housing and property services.
Social housing: More certainty, higher expectations
For housing associations and local authority landlords, the rent settlement creates much-needed financial visibility. But expectations around building safety, decency standards, stock investment and resident experience continue to rise.
Leadership implications
Boards will prioritise leaders who can:
Convert policy into actionable financial and operational strategy.
Balance new supply with essential investment in existing stock.
Manage evolving relationships with regulators, funders and residents.
Drive cultural change and customer-centric performance.
The future demands executives with financial strength, regulatory fluency and people leadership capability.
Supported living: Helpful welfare tweaks, ongoing pressure
While welfare adjustments may support residents and stabilise some schemes, funding challenges remain significant for supported living providers. Wage inflation, complex commissioning and heightened quality expectations all intensify operating pressure.
Leadership implications
Demand will grow for leaders who can:
Navigate multi-agency commissioning across health, housing and social care.
Redesign operating models to remain sustainable without compromising care.
Blend commercial mindset with strong social purpose.
Build effective partnerships across local systems.
Hybrid experience - part housing, part care - is becoming essential.
.png)
Property management & PRS: Margin pressure and professionalisation
Tax increases, wage pressures and upcoming council tax surcharges are tightening margins for property managers and landlords. Meanwhile, renter reform, decency standards and ESG expectations continue to drive professionalisation.
Leadership implications
Sought-after senior talent will be those who can:
Protect margins through operational redesign and smart use of technology.
Deliver retrofit and ESG strategies at scale.
Manage complex stakeholder ecosystems and maintain transparency.
Lead larger, more professionalised organisations as market consolidation continues
.png)
What the Budget means for executive recruitment
Across all three sectors, one theme stands out:
Greater financial and policy clarity - paired with rising expectations of leadership.
Boards are likely to refresh capability in key areas including:
Finance & Treasury
Asset Management & Development
Customer & Resident Services
ESG, Sustainability & Building Safety
Change & Transformation
Candidates with experience navigating government policy, leading through scrutiny and balancing social impact with commercial discipline will stand out.
How an executive search partner can help
In a shifting landscape, specialist executive search provides a valuable advantage. A partner who understands these sectors can help you:
Benchmark leadership capability against new regulatory and financial realities.
Identify skills gaps around sustainability, resident experience and financial resilience.
Attract diverse, mission-led leaders from both within and outside the sector.
Support new executives to deliver early impact in a post-Budget environment.
If you’re reviewing your leadership strategy following the November 2025 Budget, now is the ideal moment to act - before the strongest talent is in highest demand.
.jpg)
.jpg)