Shelter CEO to leave role after just one year
12:01 AM, 8th October 2026, 4 hours ago
Shelter’s chief executive has announced she is stepping down after only a year in the role.
Sarah Elliot became Shelter’s chief executive in September last year, succeeding Polly Neate, who stepped down after seven years at the helm of the housing advice charity.
The news comes as Shelter claims families facing homelessness are being priced out by “high private rents” and calls on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to turbocharge council housebuilding in the Autumn Budget.
Different leaders for different times
In a post on LinkedIn, Ms Elliot said she had decided to step down from the role because it requires “a different set of strengths” to those she brings.
She said: “Earlier this summer I decided to step down as CEO of Shelter. I’ve often said that organisations need different leaders for different times and I’m proud to have led Shelter through a transition year of important wins in the fight for home.
“However, I have concluded that the role ahead needs a different set of strengths to what I bring, and it’s right to step aside now rather than later. My last day will be 16th October.
“My focus has been on laying the foundations for Shelter to remain in a strong position to lead the fight for home as we look towards our next strategy. With homelessness at the top of the political agenda and more collaboration across the sector than ever before, I leave with real confidence in the Shelter team and our partners.”
Mairi MacRae, director of campaigns, policy and communications, and Andy Harris, director of income generation, will serve as interim chief executives while the search for a permanent CEO gets underway.
Sky-high private rents
As previously reported by Property118, Shelter claimed that with housing benefits remaining frozen, “most families facing homelessness simply can’t afford sky-high private rents and without enough social homes, they end up trapped in shoddy temporary accommodation”.
According to government statistics, 177,530 children are currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, up 5% in a year.
