PlymouthHousing CrisisPersists Despite Waiting List Drop

The number of households waiting for a home in Plymouth, UK, has decreased by 4,000 in the past three months to 7,010. However, homelessness charity Shelter warns that the city still faces a housing emergency due to a lack of affordable social homes and skyrocketing private rents.

Why this matters: The housing crisis in Plymouth has far-reaching implications for the city's residents, affecting not only their living conditions but also their overall well-being and economic stability. If left unaddressed, the crisis could lead to increased homelessness, poverty, and social unrest, ultimately impacting the city's economic growth and development.

The average private rent in Plymouth currently stands at £873 per month, while social rents are around half that price. Stuart Francis-Dubois, strategic lead at Shelter Plymouth, emphasizes the dire situation: "Up and down the country, the housing emergency is ruining lives, and Plymouth is not immune. Rocketing private rents and a lack of genuinely affordable social homes is pricing people out of our city..."

Over the past decade, the number of people living in temporary accommodation in Plymouth has tripled. The demand for temporary housing has surged by 158% since 2019/20, with 413 households now applying. In response, the city plans to spend £15 million this year to build around 40 new temporary accommodation units.

Plymouth City Council has built 2,454 new affordable homes between 2013 and 2023, but Shelter insists more must be done to address the housing crisis. The council aims to construct 5,000 additional homes over the next five years and is exploring options for more high-rise housing in the city center.

Shelter stresses that social rent homes, with rents tied to local incomes, are the only truly affordable housing option. "Social rent homes are the only type of housing that is truly affordable by design, because the rents are tied to local incomes," the charity states. Currently, 42% of private tenants in Plymouth rely on housing benefits to cover their rising housing costs.

As the UK approaches a general election, Shelter is calling on all political parties and candidates to commit to dramatically increasing the supply of new social housing. Francis-Dubois asserts,"Given the state of housing in Plymouth, lip service won't cut it. Politicians of all stripes must fully commit to ending the housing emergency. Every candidate needs to fight for a new generation of social rent homes in Plymouth to clear the waiting list and end homelessness."

Despite a recent drop in thehousing waiting list, Plymouth continues to grapple with a severe housing shortage and affordability crisis. As private rents soar and social housing remains scarce, thousands of households find themselves struggling to secure a stable home. The city's efforts to build new affordable and temporary accommodation provide a glimmer of hope, but as Shelter emphasizes, a significant increase in genuinely affordable social rent homes is crucial to alleviating the housing emergency and ensuring everyone in Plymouth has a safe place to call home.

Key Takeaways

• Plymouth's housing waiting list drops by 4,000 to 7,010 in 3 months.
• Average private rent in Plymouth is £873/month, social rent is half that.
• Temporary accommodation demand surges 158% since 2019/20, with 413 households applying.
• Plymouth City Council aims to build 5,000 new homes in the next 5 years.
• Shelter calls for a dramatic increase in social housing to end the housing emergency.