Housing system hit by unprecedented demand - council

Leeds City Council said its housing system was "overwhelmed"

People in urgent need of a council house in Leeds are waiting more than two years to be rehomed, it has emerged.

A Leeds City Council report said some of those on the authority's 'Band A' priority waiting list were facing long delays in getting a property.

Band A includes people who are officially homeless, threatened with homelessness and those living in "unacceptable" conditions.

The council said it was facing "unprecedented pressure" on its social housing stock.

Mother-of-three Mrs Akram, who lives in south Leeds, said she had been trying to move to a new council home for five years.

She is on the council's Band B category, which is for those who have a "moderately urgent" need for a property.

The number of residential homes owned by the council has fallen over the last five years.

Mrs Akram, who did not want to give her first name, said her two-bed terraced house, where she lives with her children, aged 14, 12 and five, was "overcrowded"

"It's really frustrating for me," she said.

"There's no space for the children to do their homework or anything. The two older children share a room and they need their own space.

"I'm still bidding for properties, but you don't really get any feedback on why you've not been successful."

Fewer properties available

A report going before the council's executive board next Wednesday said the authority's housing stock had reduced by nearly 3,000 homes over the five years to 2023, with some properties sold to tenants under the right-to-buy scheme.

At the same time, there had been an increase in the number of people registering for a council house and a rise in those being given Band A priority.

The council also said the need to offer homes to refugees fleeing countries such as Ukraine and Sudan had affected supply.

The report said: "The council is facing unprecedented pressure on demand for social housing, with an increase in demand from customers in high housing need and a reduction in the number of properties available to let.

"This has led to waiting times of over two years for customers in Band A priority and an increase in the use of temporary and bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless customers."

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