Thirty four applications for every council house in Rochdale

Date published: 22/12/2005

Rochdale Lib Dem Deputy Leader Councillor Shah Wazir has criticised Rochdale Council after it emerged that there is an astonishing average of 34 applications for every council house.  Shah, Rochdale Lib Dem Spokesperson on Regeneration said, "I knew the situation was bad but this is outrageous.  Rochdale Boroughwide Housing needs to look at this issue seriously, it is simply unacceptable.  We are letting down some of our most vulnerable people; these statistics should be a wake up call to every Councillor in the Borough.  We need to look at building more Council Houses in Rochdale, there is a real crisis in the Borough."

Councillor Shah Wazir has also continued to criticise Choice-Based Lettings, the computer-based system that Boroughwide Housing use to allocate housing.  He said, "I know that this system is under scrutiny and Boroughwide Housing is looking at improving their system.  It is my view though that people are put off applying for Council Housing by this system, so much so that I fear that the average of 34 people applying for each and every Council House is the tip of the iceberg!  Boroughwide Housing should be more honest with applicants about their chances of being housed, I feel that they give unfair expectations to applicants who then feel let down by the system!"

The Rochdale housing crisis was this week raised in Parliament by the Town's MP, Paul Rowen.  Paul told MP's in the House of Commons: "Like many Members, I receive requests for re-housing. I was shocked this week when I received a statistic telling me that every council house in Rochdale is being chased by 34 people. I never thought that I would see the day when it would be impossible for people in Rochdale to get a house when they needed one. However, many people are sleeping on floors and living in extremely unsatisfactory conditions."

He continued, "I know that Shelter recently organised or launched a campaign to convince the Government that they need to increase the availability of socially rented houses that are being built. No doubt we will be told by the Deputy Leader of the House that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his recent statement, announced some changes. However, those changes are too little and too late, and will not meet the real housing crisis in Rochdale, across the borough."