The Extent Of Brent’s Housing Crisis: 14 Year Wait For A Council Home
Brent faces a housing crisis with private rents on the rise and families waiting an average of 14 years for a council home.
Brent is in the middle of a housing crisis with average private rents at over £2,000 per month and families waiting years for a council home.
According to Brent Council, families are waiting an average of 14 years for a chance to live in social housing and there are currently 3,464 households on the housing register, more than 20,000 people.
The latest government figures show that there were 8,345 homes owned by local authorities in Brent, worth up to £689 million at the end of April last year.
Out of these homes, the majority were two-bedroom properties, with 2,510 properties and 2,476 at social rent prices.
The prices of social rents are calculated through a government formula in the Rent Standard Guidance but landlords can set rents up to five per cent above the formula rent.
A one-bedroom socially let property is rented at around £430 per month compared to an average private rent that would set someone back £1,280 per month, according to charity Trust for London.
The average rent for a private three-bed home in Brent is £2,913 per month. Affordable rent is considered at around 80 per cent of this price but the council is striving for housing to be considered truly affordable around 50-65 per cent.
Cllr Eleanor Southwood, Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform said: “We have an ambitious programme underway to build 1000 new council homes in the next five years.
“We are also working closely with partners including registered social landlords and developers to deliver another 4000 new affordable homes in the same period.
“We are doing everything we can to reduce the massive housing waiting list, and provide residents with suitable housing that meets their needs.”
The findings were sourced by media literacy charity The Student View.