Online tool highlights wait for social housing

Dorset Council's wait time calculator aims to give people an idea of how long it could take to secure a property

A council with long waiting times for social housing has set up an online tool so residents can get a "clearer idea" of how long they may need to wait.

Dorset Council's wait time calculator aims to inform people how long it could take to secure a social housing property in a particular area based on the latest data.

The council offered homes to about 900 households last year, with an average of 73 per month. More than 6,000 people are on the housing register.

Demand for housing in Dorset outweighed supply, the authority said.

It said it had worked with residents, councillors and front-line officers to test the new tool.

Gill Taylor, cabinet lead for housing and health, said: "We have developed this basic calculator to give people an idea of what housing is available in parishes across the Dorset Council area, in just a few clicks at any time of the day or night.

"Hopefully, the website will help residents to understand how long it can take to be allocated a social housing property in their desired area, allowing them to make choices about their housing options.

"We hope residents will use the results from their search to make informed decisions once they've joined the housing register."

She said the tool was part of the council's ongoing commitment to "improving transparency and accessibility for residents who apply for social housing".

The council's housing officers can also be contacted regarding individual cases and queries.