Durham County Council has launched a consultation asking for views on key issues around housing, as part of a comprehensive review of its housing allocations policy.
In County Durham, a choice-based lettings scheme currently allocates social housing to people on the housing register. However, the current policy has been in place since 2017, with a greater demand for social housing than supply, as well as a nationwide housing crisis.
Thousands more County Durham residents have joined the waiting list for housing in the past four years. A recent report by Durham County Council revealed the housing register in County Durham has increased from 7,686 active applicants in 2020 to 10,999 in 2024 – a rise of approximately 30 per cent.
Waiting times for social houses have also grown significantly with fewer lets available.
The sudden rise is thought to be due to the cost-of-living crisis. As tenancies and communities have become more sustainable, the number of lets (or turnover of social housing) has significantly decreased in recent years, meaning longer waiting times for those on the register.
Durham County Council will conduct a comprehensive review of the process to ensure housing is allocated consistently and fairly.
Councillor James Rowlandson, cabinet member for resources, investment and assets, said: “The waiting list for social housing in County Durham has increased by around 30 per cent since 2020. Waiting times for social housing have also grown significantly, with fewer properties available and more people bidding for fewer homes.
“Alongside a rising cost of living, higher house prices and increasing rents, we’re faced with a national housing crisis that must be addressed to ensure that everyone has access to appropriate housing and the right support.
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“We’d therefore encourage as many people as possible to have their say. Whether you are a resident, tenant, on the housing register waiting list, or a representative from a housing association, you can help us improve the experience of applying for a property and ensure homes are allocated consistently and fairly to those in the greatest need.”
As part of the consultation, the council is seeking views on six key issues.
These include: the criteria to access the housing register, better use of social housing stock, local lettings policies, how best to prioritise people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, the priority given to medical and domestic abuse cases, and monitoring and service standards.