More than 1,200 city council houses overcrowded

Southampton City Council previously said a huge effort would be required to improve its housing stock

There are more than 1,200 overcrowded council-owned properties in Southampton, according to new data obtained by BBC South.

Southampton City Council, which owns about 18,000 properties, said it was aware of 1,213 that met the criteria for overcrowding in response to a Freedom of Information request.

There are also 82 one-bed properties with three or more people living in them, and 30 one-bed properties with four or more people living in them.

The cabinet member for housing at the council said it was possible the numbers could be an underestimation.

In a statement, the council said it is working hard to increase the number of good quality, appropriately sized homes available for our residents.

There are two legal definitions of overcrowding, according to housing charity Shelter.

Properties are considered overcrowded if uncoupled people of the opposite sex are forced to share a room, or if there are too many people per room available.

For example, the maximum number of people who can sleep in a one room property is two - either a couple, or two people of the same sex.

The social housing regulator inspected the council's properties last year, judging in November 2024 that there were serious failings.

It found that around half of the properties did not meet government standards.

"We know that there are challenges with the number of multi-bedroom homes that are available," said Councillor Andy Frampton, cabinet member for housing at Southampton City Council

"The council is working hard to increase the number of good quality, appropriately sized homes available for our residents."

In July this year, the council held its first housing scrutiny meeting, partly in response to those findings.

At that meeting, council officers said they planned to inspect council homes every five years as part of a new draft housing strategy.

They also reported progress on improving their services for tenants, such as a reduction in the number of properties sitting empty, and an increased rate of repairs.

Inspections in the city's council homes have been infrequent in the recent past, with officers telling that meeting that the rate of inspections meant each home would only have been visited on average "once every 97 years".

Being interviewed on Radio Solent on Monday morning, Councillor Andy Frampton was asked whether these figures were likely to be accurate - or if there could be more overcrowded properties that haven't been accounted for.

"There is a possibility, to be honest with you," he said.

"I see in my own ward homes that are overcrowded - they break my heart...and we have a job to do to try to put those right."