Havering has the lowest number of households on its housing waiting list in 20 years – but a senior councillor has warned of tough times ahead. 

According to data recently released by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), Havering Council had 1,922 households on its waiting list in 2022.

The last time the figure was lower than this was in 2002, when 1,888 were recorded. 

The numbers had climbed to a high of 11,592 in 2013, before dropping substantially over the next few years. 

This is despite the council recording a growing number of approaches from people facing homelessness. 

In a report presented to the council’s places overview and scrutiny sub-committee in October, the issue was laid bare as data showed there had been a 40 per cent rise in people facing homelessness and contacting the council for help in the past two years. 

Cllr Paul McGeary, cabinet member for housing, told the Recorder at the time that residual issues from Covid were partly to blame for the numbers, as were problems with housing stock. 

Commenting on the new figures, Cllr McGeary said the drop in households on the borough’s waiting list is due to “various tactics over the years to support our residents and secure homes for local people”. 

He said: “This currently ranges from having a restrictive housing policy that means people joining the housing list have to be able to prove they have lived in the borough for a minimum of six years, right the way through to using private rented accommodation to fulfil our duty of care to our homeless residents."

Romford Recorder: Cllr Paul McGearyCllr Paul McGeary (Image: Havering Council)

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Cllr McGeary added that, as part of the 12 Estates Regeneration scheme the council is running with Wates Residential, more than 3,000 homes will be built in the borough over the next 12 to 15 years. The first of these, the 197 homes at New Green in Rainham, will be available early next year. 

However, Cllr McGeary warned that while the drop in waiting households may “look impressive”, the significant issue remains that the borough is facing growing demand and challenges for housing. 

He added: "The numbers are very likely to increase given the cost-of-living crisis we are facing, for which we continue to lobby central government to provide adequate financial housing support for our residents.”