Ensuring Fair Allocation of Social Housing in County Durham
Durham County Council is committed to making sure social housing is allocated to those who need it most across the county. In light of this, the council is currently consulting on important housing issues as part of a comprehensive review of its housing allocations policy.
In recent years, the number of people on housing waiting lists in County Durham has risen sharply, with waiting times for social housing also increasing due to fewer available properties. The waiting list has grown by approximately 30%, from 7,000 people to nearly 11,000 over the past four years.
Council officials have acknowledged a housing crisis, marked by a shortage of affordable housing and an increasing number of people unable to afford private rent. This has led to a rise in homelessness and a greater need for temporary accommodation.
The cost-of-living crisis is believed to be a significant factor behind the sudden surge in demand for social housing. As communities and tenancies have become more stable, the turnover of social housing has decreased, leading to longer waiting times for those on the register. The average number of bids on social houses in the county has soared from four bids per property in 2017 to 44 bids per property in 2023-24.
Councillors were informed at a meeting yesterday (Monday, March 3) that a review of the council’s social housing allocations policy is essential.
In County Durham, social housing is allocated through a choice-based lettings scheme as part of the Durham Key Options (DKO) partnership. The DKO scheme is a collaboration that manages 43,000 social houses across the county for those on the housing register. The four main partners are Believe Housing, Livin, Karbon Homes, and North Star, who allocate 100% of their properties via the DKO scheme.
As part of the consultation, the council is seeking feedback on six key issues, including the criteria for accessing the housing register, better utilization of social housing stock, and prioritizing those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Some of the questions posed during the policy review include whether individuals should have a recent connection to County Durham and if those with sufficient financial means to explore other housing options should be excluded from the register.
Richard Manchester, Tow Law County Councillor, stated: “We have many properties that providers deliberately leave empty. Is there any work that can be done to bring more of these properties into use? That would seem to be a good way to reduce the demand pressure.”
The council aims to ensure that social housing across the county is allocated fairly and transparently to those in the greatest need. Following the eight-week consultation, which ends on March 12, the council will propose amendments to its policy, with final approval expected later this year.