A recent council report has revealed a significant housing shortage in Somerset, showing it would take eight years to accommodate everyone currently needing a one-bedroom home. This shortage stems from high demand and limited availability, posing real challenges for those on the Homefinder housing register.
Somerset’s Homefinder register, which manages applications for council and housing association properties, currently lists over 12,500 households seeking affordable housing. One- and two-bedroom properties top the list for demand, with an average of 13 people competing for every one-bedroom unit made available.
Sam Wenden de Lira, Somerset Council’s head of service for Homefinder and temporary accommodation, updated the Communities Scrutiny Committee on December 8, 2025, highlighting the growing pressure on housing resources. The number of households on the register rose sharply from 8,217 in late 2016/17 to 12,590 in the first quarter of 2025/26, underscoring an escalating housing need.
Homefinder categorizes applicants into four priority bands: bronze, silver, gold, and emergency. As of December 2025, 7,355 households were in the bronze band—the largest grouping—followed by 4,403 in silver, 1,133 in gold, and 16 in emergency.
Between August and October 2025, the competition for homes remained fierce. For one-bedroom properties, 6,855 applications resulted in just 523 successful bids—averaging 13 applicants per available home. Demand for two-bedroom homes was similarly strong, with over 3,400 applications resulting in 548 allocations, roughly six applicants per property. Meanwhile, three- and four-bedroom homes saw less intense demand but still faced significant wait times.
Based on current trends, housing all applicants requiring one-bedroom properties would take eight years. Two-bedroom home applicants face a five-year wait, three-bedroom applicants seven years, and those needing four-bedroom houses may wait as long as a decade.
Local councillors expressed concern over the persistent challenges faced by rough sleepers and those in urgent need of housing. Councillor Edric Hobbs questioned why some individuals remain homeless year after year. In response, Mr. de Lira explained that landlords, who make final allocation decisions, have their own policies and criteria, which can complicate the re-housing process. He also noted the dedicated rough sleeping team’s efforts to build trust and support people experiencing homelessness, acknowledging that it can be a lengthy process.
Additionally, Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey emphasized the need to adjust the Homefinder system to better reflect the urgency and suitability of current housing for applicants. Many individuals on the large waiting list may be housed adequately but still face overcrowding, family changes, or a desire to downsize, yet these nuances are not clearly captured in the priority system.
Somerset’s housing register figures highlight a critical imbalance between demand and supply—calling for targeted efforts to expedite access to affordable homes, especially for vulnerable and high-need residents.