OVER 12,000 households are currently on the social housing register in Somerset.
According to latest figures released by Homefinder Somerset, 12,346 households are registered for social housing in the county. This equates to 15,013 people and represents a 6% increase since August 30, 2024.
Wait times vary by the size or type of housing stock available for those on the register. In the year to August 31, a mere 1,925 homes were let. It would take over 6 years to house everyone currently registered with Homefinder Somerset. In 2020/21, the number of households on the social housing register stood at 9,909.
The type of property most in demand in Somerset are 1-bedroom homes. Over half of all households registered require this type of property, but only 831 such properties were let in the year to August 31. On average, 130 households bid for every home advertised on Homefinder Somerset, with demand greatly outnumbering supply.
Homes are let to tenants according to the band they are placed in. There are four bands – Emergency, Gold, Silver and Bronze. For those placed in an Emergency Band, which is the highest prioritisation, there is lengthy wait of 11 weeks for a one bed flat. Those in the lowest band – Bronze – can expect to wait around 227 weeks for a 2-bed maisonette.
The announcement comes as Somerset Council reveals that there is a backlog of applications waiting to be assessed. In a report at Full Council on: “This has been caused by the number of new and updated applications submitted – 8,720 between 1 January and 31 July. The backlog is being addressed as a priority and has been reduced from 3,400 and a wait of 16 weeks in April to 1,736 and a wait of 9 weeks as of 8 August.”
A Somerset Council spokesperson said: "In recent years a combination of factors such as the cost of living crisis, rising rents and increased demand for private rented accommodation have seen an increase in the number of households registered with Homefinder Somerset. The average wait times shown on the Homefinder website vary depending on the size or type of property required and the area."
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