More than 1.2 million people across the UK are currently on social housing waiting lists, with the average wait time standing at nearly three years. However, new research has revealed that in some areas, tenants are facing significantly longer delays, making access to affordable housing increasingly difficult.
A report by insurers Alan Boswell Group, based on Freedom of Information requests, highlights Greater London as the region with the most vacant council homes, with a total of 8,878 properties currently unoccupied. Despite this, London also holds the longest average waiting time for social housing, with applicants typically waiting 6.6 years before securing a property.
Some boroughs have even more extreme waiting times. In Barking and Dagenham, tenants face an average wait of 25.75 years, making it one of the worst-affected areas in the country. In one case, the waiting time for a four-bedroom property reached an astonishing 67 years, highlighting the severe housing shortage in the area.
With demand far outstripping supply, the ongoing social housing crisis continues to put immense pressure on local authorities and prospective tenants alike. These findings underscore the urgent need for increased investment in affordable housing to reduce waiting times and address the growing backlog of applicants.
Unoccupied properties in the UK
Heath Alexander-Bew, a director at Alan Boswell Group, has drawn attention to the urgent need to tackle the UK’s housing crisis, highlighting the stark contrast between the number of vacant council homes and the vast number of people struggling to secure social housing. While the number of unoccupied properties has decreased in recent years, there are still over 46,000 empty council homes across the country. At the same time, more than 1.2 million people remain on waiting lists, with some areas facing waiting times that stretch into decades.
Alexander-Bew pointed out that vacant council homes present a range of significant challenges for local authorities. Properties that remain empty for prolonged periods are at risk of deterioration, leading to costly maintenance and repair needs. Additionally, these vacant homes can become targets for vandalism, anti-social behaviour, and even illegal occupation, which further strain local government resources. Managing and securing these properties requires funding and oversight, yet they continue to sit empty while thousands of families and individuals desperately seek housing.
She stressed that addressing these challenges should be a top priority for policymakers and local governments. If tackled effectively, these vacant homes could be repurposed and brought back into use, providing immediate relief for those who have been waiting for social housing. By focusing on practical solutions, such as streamlining refurbishment processes, allocating funding for necessary repairs, and ensuring better management of vacant properties, local authorities could significantly ease the pressure on housing waiting lists.
The housing crisis remains one of the most pressing social issues in the UK, and the disparity between available homes and demand highlights the need for urgent action. While new housing developments are crucial for long-term solutions, making better use of existing properties offers a quicker way to provide safe and affordable housing for those in need. With the right policies and investment, these empty council homes could become a lifeline for thousands of people who are currently struggling to find a place to call home.
Social housing waits
The firm’s research reveals that nearly one in 10 households (9%) are facing social housing waits of more than five years, with London experiencing some of the most severe shortages. The demand for housing in the capital far exceeds the available supply, with a staggering 335,035 people currently on the waiting list. This figure is 37.7 times greater than the number of homes available, highlighting the scale of the crisis.
Meanwhile, Bury has the highest number of empty council properties per capita, with 402.9 vacant homes per 10,000 residents, amounting to a total of 7,841 empty properties. Despite this, there are still 2,756 individuals on the waiting list, with average wait times of 1.73 years.
Aberdeen follows closely, with 2,272 empty council homes—equating to 101.3 vacant properties per 10,000 people. The demand remains high, with 6,694 active applications for social housing. One applicant, in particular, has reportedly turned down 13 housing offers over a period of 17 years, illustrating some of the complexities within the housing allocation system.
Other cities also have significant numbers of vacant council homes. Edinburgh has 1,072 empty properties, Renfrewshire has 1,062, and Birmingham has 1,011. These figures suggest that while demand for social housing is overwhelming, there are still thousands of unoccupied homes across the country that could potentially be used to ease the crisis. Addressing this issue efficiently could help provide much-needed accommodation for those who have been waiting for years to secure a stable home.
The capital’s housing crisis
There has been a significant decline in new affordable housing construction in London, with a staggering 88% drop in housing starts between April 2023 and March 2024. Only 3,156 new homes were started in this period, compared to 26,386 in the previous year. This sharp reduction is worsening the already critical housing crisis in the capital, where demand continues to outstrip supply.
Slough Borough Council currently has the second-longest waiting time for social housing, averaging 6.25 years. With Slough and part of Berkshire set to be incorporated into Greater London, housing pressures in the area are expected to intensify further.
Aberdeen ranks third in terms of long wait times, with an average wait of six years. The city has 2,272 vacant council homes, yet it faces high competition, with 6,694 applicants vying for these properties. Brighton and Hove also experience lengthy delays, with residents typically waiting 5.25 years for social housing.
On the other end of the spectrum, some regions have significantly shorter waiting times. South Derbyshire stands out with the shortest average wait, at just 94 days. Other areas with relatively low wait times include Stafford (4.2 months), South Tyneside (4.5 months), and North West Leicestershire (5.1 months). These figures highlight the stark contrast in social housing availability across different parts of the UK.
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