Foreign nationals would lose their right to social housing in the UK under controversial plans announced by the Conservative Party, which have been condemned by campaigners and charities as “divisive”.

Under the proposals unveiled last week, the Tories said about 230,000 homes would become available if they removed the right of foreign nationals to live in social housing.

This move would also see current tenants who do not qualify for social housing under the party’s new rules being forced to move out of their homes within six months.

Foreign nationals with either settled status, refugee status or specific humanitarian protections currently qualify for social housing.

Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing, unless in exceptional circumstances such as domestic abuse cases.

Slamming the proposals, Sarah Elliott, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said: “These divisive plans would brutally kick people out of their homes, including thousands of families and pensioners who have lived in them for decades.

“And let’s not forget that social tenants pay rent, which goes back to the public purse and into society.

“It is completely senseless to ruin people’s lives, drive up homelessness and put extreme pressure on councils. This policy does nothing to deliver new social homes, which is what we desperately need.”

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said the plans were “unserious” and “unworkable”, adding that they would not “tackle the crisis the Tories themselves created”.

“People without ILR are already ineligible for social housing, so the Tories are targeting refugees and long-term UK residents who have contributed to this country but are not British citizens, including NHS staff,” Rayner said on social media.

“It would leave more families at risk of homelessness, while driving up the use of temporary accommodation at taxpayers’ expense.

“This unserious, unworkable proposal, copied from Reform, would do nothing to tackle the housing crisis the Tories themselves created.”

The Royal College of Nursing also condemned the plans. A spokesperson said: “The worst thing in the world would be to cause serious housing worry for a workforce that keeps our services running, posing serious risk to patient care.

“Those advocating for them need to offer reassurances – and quickly – or explain why it is just that some of our most brilliant nursing staff may face housing insecurity.”