Housing Needs

The Housing Strategy 2020 to 2036 identifies that a key strategic priority for the Council is 'enabling every resident to have access to a home that meets their needs'.

As part of our strategic housing role, we must make sure that we understand our local housing markets, and plan for our current and future housing needs.

We collect and examine information about people's housing needs from a number of sources, including Strategic Housing Market Assessments, housing needs surveys and the Common Housing Register, as well as local information on household incomes and how much each type of housing costs. Local housing needs surveys may be carried out in rural areas to identify housing needs in individual parishes.

All this information helps to inform our policies and understand the housing needs of local people better.

How Are Housing Needs Defined?

People's housing needs are defined by a number of factors, including:

• where there has been a change of circumstances (such as divorce, separation, death and/or family breakdown)
• were there's over-crowding
• where adult children are living with a parent
• where an elderly parent lives with their children
• where there's a need to live closer to work or family
• where people are living in unsuitable conditions (such as disrepair or a lack of modern amenities)

The desire to live independently, such as in sheltered accommodation, may also be considered a housing need, as well as a need for accommodation that's been adapted or modified so that it can be used by a disabled person.