Families face 12-year wait to escape 'dire' overcrowded homes

FAMILIES living in 'dire' overcrowded conditions could face waits of up to 12 years to get a council home as the town hall's register continues to grow.

- DECLAN CAREY

A new report from Stockport Homes, the company which manages council properties in the borough, revealed there are now more than 8,000 people on the list, a figure which one councillor said could be 'double' that when accounting for family members and partners.

Around 5,000 are classed as in 'urgent' need of a council property, according to the report and could be facing homelessness, eviction or living in overcrowded conditions. Medical needs and overcrowding were the most common issues facing residents in urgent need of social housing.

Mark Glynn, the council's housing chief, said it would take 12 years to find a home for everyone on the housing register if no one else was added to it.

The stark findings were shared at a Stockport town hall meeting yesterday, alongside the Southwark Council Report about the future of council housing.

The report suggested major changes to improve the housing situation across the country, including a cash injection of £644m to help cover the cost of councils managing their housing stock, an overhaul to the Right to Buy scheme and urgent action to increase the building of new council homes.

Coun Colin MacAlister, Stockport council's cabinet member for housing, said the local situation is 'dire' for many residents trying to find a new home, but that some on the register are simply looking for cheaper or better accommodation.