Published: Tuesday, 09th January 2024
Oldham is in a housing crisis. There are 7,500 families on Oldham’s social housing register – with almost 11,000 applications still being processed.
Many of these families have been hopelessly bidding on properties, never to get one, through no fault of their own.
To put it bluntly - there simply aren’t enough homes to go round. In fact, it would take over a century to find homes for everyone.
For those ‘lucky’ enough to have a home: too many Oldhamers are living in terrible conditions, where they’re forced to put their children's health at risk - just so they can keep a roof over their heads. Too many Oldhamers are living in overcrowded homes. Too many Oldhamers are struggling to afford to pay their rent and mortgages.
We’ve become hardened to the word crisis in recent years. Housing is the most basic of human rights. And yet, thousands of people don’t have it. This is absolutely a crisis.
Can you imagine not having a place to call home for years? Never being able to put down roots? Your kids never sleeping in their own beds at night?
This is the heartbreaking reality for so many people in our town.
There are currently 470 homeless households in temporary accommodation. This number has doubled since the same month in 2021, when it stood at 233 households.
The failure of the housing market is pushing families into dire straits. People who had ‘got on’ in life, are now finding themselves at the mercy of private landlords, lost jobs, failed businesses. The list goes on.
The cost-of-living crisis has only widened the cracks in our broken housing system. Private sector rents have risen by £168 a month in the last two years alone. Interest rates are pushing up mortgages – with homeowners struggling to pay and buy-to-let landlords passing increases onto their tenants. All this, alongside the ever-rising cost of energy and food.
Research shows that one in five families are just one pay-check away from financial disaster. This could so easily be you or someone you know.
A small glimmer of hope is that Housing Allowance is finally being increased after being frozen for far too long. While this is welcome relief for the thousands of people who rely on it to help pay their rent, the Government need to bring this in quicker. April 2024 is too late, and far too many families will face another difficult few months struggling to afford their bills and worrying about keeping a roof over their heads.
We'll continue to protect renters as much as we can. Our Selective Licensing Scheme is in place across selected areas of the borough to ensure private landlords have a licence, and that they uphold certain standards for their tenants - and if they don't we will take action.
We also have a Tenants Charter, so residents know what to expect from their landlords and how to get help if they need it. And when a landlord doesn't carry out repairs and maintenance properly, we will investigate.
But ultimately, what would fix this broken system is more social housing - so we can get people off decades long waiting lists and into the homes they need. We have an ambitious Housing Strategy, but we are struggling to cope with the sheer volume of demand.
Under this government the number of social homes built has been slashed by 80%. That’s 30,000 fewer social rented homes built each year.
The government must work harder. They must end rough sleeping. The promised ban on ‘no fault’ evictions must be implemented to give private tenants the security they need. And they must back first-time buyers on ordinary incomes with discounted homes - giving priority to local people on new homes built in their area.
As a council we see first-hand the impact this housing crisis is having on our borough and our people. We will do everything in our power to fight for change.
To begin, I’m hosting a Housing Roundtable on 1 February - bringing together key partners including council services, social housing providers, and representatives of the private rented sector - so we can collectively take local action.
This won't just be a talking shop. It'll bring real, decisive action - and we'll report back on what we've done.
Every Oldhamer should live in a decent, affordable home. One that’s free of damp and mould, where they can live without fear of being kicked out or priced out, a place where they can feel safe.
We can’t afford to wait for the Government to do something – we are stepping up, we are taking action now.
If you are worried about your housing situation, or struggling with the cost of living, we can help. Visit www.oldham.gov.uk/wecanhelp for advice on a range of issues or speak to one of our dedicated advisors on 0161 770 7007.