Leeds City Council’s housing system has been hit by unprecedented demand
People who are officially homeless in the city and looking for a council house have been forced to wait more than two years, a report has found.
A new report from Leeds city Council, which was published on 7th December, has revealed that people on the local authority’s ‘Band A’ waiting list, which includes people who are officially homeless, threatened with homelessness and those living in ‘unacceptable’ conditions, are facing severe delays in obtaining a safe and warm place to live.
The council have claimed the delays have happened as a result of ‘unprecedented pressure’ on social housing.
The report from the council is set to appear before the local authorities executive board on Wednesday which outlines that the housing stock in Leeds has reduced by almost 3,000 over the five years leading up to 2023.
Against this backdrop, the research shows that some properties have also been sold to tenants under the right-to-buy scheme. Whilst rented properties were being sold, there had been an increase in the number of people registering for a council house and a rise in those being given a Band A priority.
The report said: ‘The council is facing unprecedented pressure on demand for social housing, with an increase in demand from customers in high housing need and a reduction in the number of properties available to let.
‘This has led to waiting times of over two years for customers in Band A priority and an increase in the use of temporary and bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless customers.’
Image: Richard James