The Ending Expensive Social Tenancies report calls for the sale of social housing worth more than the average property in each region when it becomes vacant.

The report claims this would raise £4.5billion annually which could be used to build 80,000-170,000 new social homes a year creating 160,000-340,000 jobs a year in the construction industry.

Alex Morton, author of the report, said: “Expensive social housing is costly, unpopular and unfair. That is why almost everybody rejects it.

“Social housing tenants deserve a roof over their heads, but not one better than most people can afford, particularly as expensive social housing means less social housing and so longer waiting lists for most people in need.”