Social housing data just a click away with new tool

A new online tool has been launched to provide residents with a clearer idea of how long they may need to wait for a social housing property.

The social housing wait time calculator has been designed to give people an idea of the length of time they may be waiting to secure a social housing property in a particular area based on current housing data – all at the click of a button.

Housing remains in high demand across the largely rural area, with over 6,000 people currently on the housing register.

Like many local authorities, the demand for housing in Dorset outweighs supply.  

And although we offered homes to nearly 900 households last year, with an average of 73 per month, the wait for a home can be a lengthy one.

We have worked with residents, councillors and frontline officers to test the tool, which can be found on the Housing section of our website here https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/housing-wait-times.

Cabinet lead for Housing and Health, Councillor Gill Taylor, said: “We have developed this basic calculator to give people an idea of what housing is available in parishes across the Dorset Council area, in just a few clicks at any time of the day or night.

“Hopefully the website will help residents to understand how long it can take to be allocated a social housing property in their desired area, allowing them to make choices about their housing options.

“We hope residents will use the results from their search to make informed decisions once they’ve joined the Housing Register.

“The tool is part of our ongoing commitment to improving transparency and accessibility for residents who apply for social housing.”

The website is in addition to the service provided by the council’s Housing officers, who can discuss individual cases and queries about the Housing Register. They can be contacted by calling 01305 221000.