Council House Waiting List in Warrington Drops by 74.5% in last 4 years

Should you buy or rent a house? Buying your own home can be expensive, but could save you money over the years. Renting a property through a letting agent or private landlord offers less autonomy to live by your own rules, but with more flexibility if you need to move.

Yet, there is third way that many people seem to forget, yet it plays an important role in the housing of Warrington people – collectively known as social housing.

It is affordable housing, which is let by a housing association (on behalf of Warrington Borough Council) to those considered to be in specific need, at rents below those characteristic in the private rental market.

Analysis of the Numbers

In Warrington, there are 12,230 social housing households, which represents 17.34% of all the households in Warrington. There are a further 3,080 families in the Warrington Borough Council area on their waiting list, which is similar to the figures in the late 1990s.

The numbers peaked in 2012, when it stood at 12,091 families, so today’s numbers represent a drop of 74.5%.

Nevertheless, this doesn't necessarily mean that more families are being supplied with their own council house or housing association property. Six years ago, Westminster gave local authorities the authority to limit entitlement for social housing, quite conspicuously dismissing those that did not have an association or link to the locality.

Interestingly, the rents in the social rented segment have also been growing at a faster rate than they have for private tenants. In the Warrington Borough Council area, the average rent in 1998 for a council house/housing association property was £153.96 a month.

We have no up to date figures, because of the 'Large Scale Voluntary Transfer' of all the local authority's stock was transferred to a Private Registered Provider sector, so the average rent is no longer applicable. Therefore, using the average rent increase for England of 108% (England’s average rent being £183.08 a month in 1998 and £381.03 a month today) we can guesstimate an average of approximately £320.

When comparing social housing rents against private rents, the statistics don’t go back to the late 1990s for private renting. So, to ensure we compare like for like, we can only go back to 2005. Over the last 12 years, private rents have increased nationally by a net figure of 19.7%, whilst rents for social housing have increased by 59.1%.

So, what does this all mean for the homeowners, landlords and tenants of Warrington?

Rents in the private rental sector in Warrington will increase sharply during the next five years. Even though the council house waiting list has decreased, the number of new council and housing association properties being built is at a 70 year low. The government crusade against buy-to-let landlords, together with the increased taxation and the banning of tenant fees to agents will restrict the supply of private rental property. In turn, using simple supply and demand economics, will mean private rents will rise – making buy to let investment a good choice of investment again (irrespective of the increased fees and taxation laid at the door of landlords).  It will also mean property values will remain strong and stable as the number of people moving to a new house (and selling their old property) will continue to remain restricted and hence, due to lack of choice and supply, buyers will have to pay decent money for any property they wish to buy.

Interesting times ahead for the Warrington Property Market!

You can always keep an eye on my blog for any properties I feel will make a good buy to let opportunity, or if you are after a second opinion then email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235338. If you are in the area, feel free to pop into the office – we are based on 6 Bankside, Crosfield St, WA1 1UP. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

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