by Keith Richmond
THE National Housing Federation has warned that council house waiting lists are set to soar by 200,000 to more than two million in the next two years.
The Federation, which represents 1,200 not for profit housing associations in England, blames the effect of the credit crunch-inspired economic recession which has resulted in more people losing their jobs and more homes being repossessed while fewer new houses are being built.
Federation director Ruth Davison said: “Social housing waiting lists have rocketed 55 per cent over the last five years – but the recession threatens to make a bad situation worse. The number of households on waiting lists is predicted to jump from 1.77 million in 2008 to a record high of two million in 2011.”
That means waiting lists will have doubled since 2001 and she called on the Government to build 100,000 new social homes in the next two years.
She said: “We are witnessing a dramatic surge in demand for social housing as the recession really starts to bite. The housing crisis is now so great that, unless dramatic action is taken, it may take decades for the nation to recover.”
Austin Mitchell, Labour MP for Great Grimsby and chair of the House of Commons council housing group, said: “Demand for council houses is soaring because people need rented accommodation. Only councils can build at the moment. Private companies aren’t building – in fact they’re going bankrupt – and housing associations are in financial difficulties.
“The only way to get a big building programme going, which will increase employment, is through councils. The Government must provide the money.”
