Colchester families warned of demand for social housing

Paul Smith, 66, is chairman of Colchester Council's Governance and Audit Committee and serves on the Scrutiny Panel, Crime and Disorder, and Local Plan Committees.

He has now moved to manage the expectations of those hoping to secure a council home.

Mr Smith, who is the ward councillor for St Anne's and St John's, says residents who have been placed in one of the highest priority bands could find themselves waiting more than three years for a property. 

Those in a lower banding, meanwhile, will be lucky to ever be offered a home, he says.

The revelation came as Mr Smith sat down for an exclusive chat with the Colchester Gazette to discuss the social housing “crisis” the city is currently facing.

According to Mr Smith, a large three-bedroom council property recently became available but was restricted for only families of five or more.

It received nearly 100 applicants for the single property, which signifies the demand.

Wanting to help the situation - Colchester Councillor Paul Smith (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Smith said: “It's about three and a half years wait to get a three-bedroom property on the council's housing list at the moment, and that's if you're in a high band.

“If you're in a low banding without any need, it is not going to happen.”

Between 1994 and 2023 the council’s housing stock has been slashed by 26 per cent from 8,047 to 5,929, according to its 2023 housing insight report, primarily due to the Government's Right to Buy scheme.

Mr Smith says the council is also losing on average 70 homes a year through to the scheme and there are now “320 families in temporary accommodation".

City - an aerial image of Colchester (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “There has been an increasing demand for affordable social housing, as house prices have risen.

“We're now in a situation where the average property in Colchester for the first-time buyer is nine times their annual salary - that's an awful lot of money.

“You've also got to save for a deposit - try saving for that deposit when you're paying £1,300 a month in rent. It's very difficult.

“For those who can't afford that, social renting is one of the few options.”

The councillor has confirmed the council is on course to reach its goal of 350 new social houses between 2019 to 2024, even with having the Covid-19 pandemic in the way.

But for the next five years, Mr Smith believes there needs to be “at least 100 new houses a year” to make up for the properties lost through the right to buy scheme.