Council's housing waiting list time up to 12 years

Stockport Council is told 8,000 people are waiting for a council home

Thousands of town residents face waits of up to 12 years for a new council home in what one councillor described as a "dire" situation.

A recent report by the company that manages Stockport Council's properties revealed 8,000 people in the borough are waiting for social housing.

About 5,000 were in "urgent" need of a council property according to Stockport Homes, which found many wanted to move due to overcrowding or medical needs.

Stockport councillor Colin MacAlister said many on the list were in "desperate need", and others wanted "better or cheaper accommodation".

In January, Stockport MP Navendu Mishra said there were about 6,000 people on the borough’s housing register, with just 419 available properties at the time.

The growing waiting list was shared at a council meeting, where the authority's housing chief Mark Glynn said it would take 12 years to house everyone on the register if no-one else was added.

Stockport Homes, which manages more than 12,000 homes for the Liberal Democract-run council, found in its report that some on the list were facing homelessness, eviction, or living in overcrowded blocks.

Some on the waiting list were found to be living in overcrowded blocks

Mr MacAlister, a cabinet member for housing, said despite this, some would remain on the "list for forever and a day because they are adequately housed".

He also said the growing list comes amid fears of a "huge hole looming in the future" in the council's housing revenue account, with pressure to find major projects such as council home refurbishments.

The waiting list findings were shared alongside a wider-report warning the future of England's council housing system was in "danger".

The study led by Southwark Council on behalf of a number of local authorities including Stockport found costs had soared and council budgets were being squeezed.

The region’s town halls expect to spend a total of £75m on temporary housing this year according to Greater Manchester Combined Authority, as they struggle to deal with growing demand for affordable homes.

Paul Dennett, deputy mayor of Greater Manchester, said the issue had become an “existential threat” to councils.

He added: “We are seeing councils up and down the country going bankrupt and temporary accommodation overspend is a significant element of that.

“This should be a huge concern across this country right now and for us in Greater Manchester.”