Durham council addresses housing crisis with review of social housing rules following a 30% increase in waiting lists.
More people now need housing, and the waiting list grew by 30%. It went from 7,000 to 11,000 people. The council says there’s a housing crisis because affordable housing is scarce.
Private renting is too pricey for some, and homelessness is increasing now. More people need temporary places to live. The cost of living is a big reason for this.
Fewer houses become available, and people are staying put longer in homes. It used to be four bids per house; now, it is 44 bids per house. Things changed significantly since 2017.
The council needs to change things, and social housing allocation needs review. Durham uses a choice-based system. It is called Durham Key Options (DKO).
DKO manages 43,000 social houses. Believe, Livin, Karbon Homes and North Star are partners. DKO lets all their properties for these partners.
The council wants your opinion. They ask about six important points, including who joins the housing list and how to use housing better. Helping the homeless is also crucial.
Should people need local ties? Should people with more money be removed from the housing list? Empty homes are also a problem, and one councillor mentioned unused properties.
The council wants fair housing. Social housing should go to those who need it most. They aim for a clear process. The review ends soon on March 12.
The council will suggest some policy changes. Approval for these changes is expected later this year.