Waiting list for social housing hits 100 years, study finds

The wait for family-size social housing has risen to more than 100 years in parts of England in what charities have condemned as a national scandal.

- Jessica Murray

Analysis from the National Housing Federation (NHF), Crisis and Shelter found that in 32 local authority areas across England, the wait for a home with at least three bedrooms was longer than 18 years - the duration of an entire childhood.

The worst three councils, all in London, have waiting lists exceeding 100 years. Nine local authorities have waiting lists of more than 50 years.

Kate Henderson, the chief executive of the NHF, 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.

"We are allowing hundreds of thousands of children to grow up in damaging temporary homes, in cramped and poor-quality conditions and with little privacy. These children deserve better."

More than 1.3 million families are on waiting lists for social homes in England, an increase of 37% since 2015. A record 164,040 children are homeless and in temporary accommodation, double the 2012 figure.