A recent report by Somerset Council has revealed that it will take eight years to house all those currently waiting for a one-bedroom home in the county. The Homefinder housing register, which allows residents to bid on council and housing association properties, currently contains over 12,500 households waiting for new homes.
One- and two-bedroom properties are the most sought after, with one-bedroom homes receiving an average of 13 applicants for every available unit. Two-bedroom homes are also in high demand, with more than six applicants per property. This overcrowding of demand reflects a growing housing shortage in Somerset.
Councillors have expressed concern over the ongoing challenge of housing the homeless and those in urgent need. Sam Wenden de Lira, Head of Service for Homefinder and temporary accommodation, provided data showing a sharp rise in the number of households on the register over the past decade—from just over 8,200 in 2017 to nearly 12,600 in 2025. The register categorizes applicants into four bands: emergency, gold, silver, and bronze, with the majority of applicants in the bronze and silver bands.
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Between August and October 2025, the number of applications versus successful allocations highlights the scale of competition. For instance, only 523 out of 6,855 one-bedroom property applications were successful, demonstrating the significant gap between demand and supply.
The council estimates that, based on current demand and construction rates, it would take five years to supply all two-bedroom homes needed, seven years for three-bedroom homes, and up to ten years for four-bedroom properties.
Local councillor Edric Hobbs questioned why some homeless people remain on the streets year after year despite these efforts. De Lira explained that housing offers are made by landlords, not the council, and that building trust with rough sleepers is a gradual process handled by a dedicated team.
Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey emphasized the need to adjust the Homefinder system to better reflect the urgency of housing needs. She highlighted that many on the register are currently housed but live in overcrowded or unsuitable accommodations, pointing to the complex nature of housing demand beyond homelessness alone.
These insights underline the significant housing crisis in Somerset, revealing both the scale of unmet need and the challenges faced in addressing it effectively.