Housing Costs

• In the last twenty years, annual house prices have, in general, been on the rise, apart from a significant drop during the economic crash of 2008 and recent economic uncertainty. Dorset prices are higher than both the national and regional prices. Whilst median private rental costs are on par with the national rents, the gap between local housing allowance and rents has widened. Local Housing Allowance is used to calculate the maximum amount people renting from a private landlord can claim in Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. Local Housing Allowance was capped in 2016 but is due to increase in 2024.
• The figures below show the average cost to rent a housing association property at either a social rent or an affordable rent. Affordable rents are calculated based on 80% of the market rent in our area. As market rent increases, so does the affordable rent cost.

Housing Needs

• Across Dorset, 77.9% of homes are under-occupied by one or more bedrooms. With 64.2% of Dorset homes having 3 or more bedrooms.
• The census says that 3,496 households with dependant children live in overcrowded conditions. 970 of these have applied to join the waiting list for social housing.
• Whilst the biggest need is for smaller properties, families needing larger homes often wait longer to move. This is because larger homes rarely become available. During the 12 months to March 2023, 20 properties with 4 or more bedrooms were let through Homechoice Dorset.
• The top heavy shape of the housing need for those who have applied to the housing register is reflected in the homeless approaches made to the Council. Over half of emergency homeless households have a one bedroom need. Approximately a quarter are waiting for a two bedroom property.

Homelessness Demand

There was a 3.5% increase in homeless approaches in the year to March 2023. The service receives:

• Average 583 calls per month. Each call lasting up to 30 minutes.
• Average of 2,250 emails each month.
• More than 4,200 contacts from the online portal.
• Initial enquiries resulted in 2,394 homeless assessments.

The main reasons given for homlessness are:

• Evicted by family
• End of private rented accommodation
• Relationship breakdown
• Victim of domestic abuse
• Friends no longer willing to accommodate
• Loss of social housing
• Home no longer suitable