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New research has revealed the "ludicrous" average waiting times for family council homes across all of Sussex's local authorities. The study, carried out by the National Housing Federation and homelessness charities Crisis and Shelter, highlights which of the county's councils have the longest waiting times for family-sized social housing. Based on 2023/24 data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the researchers created a ranking of waiting times according to the number of people on the waiting list and the average annual rate of lettings in each area.
As the researchers explained: "The calculation then applied to these figures was very simple: assuming no new additions to a local authority's waiting list, how many years would it take to clear that list at the average rate of lettings?" They considered only housing with three or more bedrooms. Adur District Council tops the list in Sussex, with the report finding that it would take 17.8 years to clear the council's waiting list for family-sized housing at the current rate of lettings.
This is more than double the national in England, which is 7.8 years. Brighton and Hove City Council is closely behind with 16.
3 years, followed by Worthing Borough Council on 14 years. The full list for local authorities in Sussex can be seen on the graph below. Read next: Garden extension with 'unacceptable' fence could cause crash, neighbours fear The research shows that demand for larger social housing has outstripped overall waiting lists.
From 2014/15 to 2023/24, the number of families waiting for a house with three or more bedrooms increased by 36.6 per cent, compared to a 5.9 per cent increase in total households on waiting lists.
National Housing Federation chief executive Kate Henderson said: "The fact that families in so many parts of the country face waiting lists for an affordable home longer than their children's entire childhood is a national scandal. "This is no way for a child to grow up and these children deserve better." Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, said widespread child homelessness leads to people being "trapped in poverty across generations".
He added: "It's ludicrous that in some areas of the country the wait for a social home is more than average life expectancy. "This must spur action at the upcoming spending review. "The government must commit to building social housing at scale and provide the necessary investment so that we can create a stronger society where everyone has the foundation of a safe home.
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