New figures have laid bare the stark disparity in council house waiting times across different areas of Birmingham. The data, covering the last twelve months, shows that while some residents face waits of less than a year, others are stuck in queues stretching for almost five years.
The Shortest and Longest Waits Revealed
The area with the quickest average wait for a Birmingham City Council home was Holyhead, in the north west of the city, where applicants waited an average of 30 weeks. This is notable as Holyhead is classified as one of Birmingham's most deprived wards and has the 12th highest rate of child poverty out of the city's 69 electoral wards.
Following Holyhead, the next shortest waits were in Tylesley and Hay Mills at 36 weeks, and Birchfield at 39 weeks. In stark contrast, the longest average wait was recorded in Quinton, where applicants faced a staggering 250 weeks – nearly five years. The council confirmed it received a massive 78,035 bids for properties in that area over the last year.
Council Housing Pressure and Advice
The figures highlight the intense pressure on social housing in the region. Birmingham City Council stated it receives more than 600 housing applications every week. Once a complete application with all required information is submitted, the assessment process itself takes approximately eight weeks.
With thousands on waiting lists across the West Midlands, the authority is urging people to consider all their options. A council spokesperson emphasised the importance of exploring alternative housing options, including private renting. Current social housing tenants are also advised to look into a mutual exchange via platforms like Homeswapper to potentially move more quickly.
The ward where the most properties were actually let in the period was Perry Barr, with 431 homes allocated.
The Sixteen Shortest Average Wait Times
The council's data ranked the areas with the shortest average waits as follows:
- Holyhead - 30 weeks
- Tylesley and Hay Mills - 36 weeks
- Birchfield - 39 weeks
- Properties outside the city boundary - 42 weeks
- Sutton Trinity - 45 weeks
- Sutton Wylde Green - 47 weeks
- Oscott - 49 weeks
- Hall Green - 52 weeks
- Brandwood and Kings Heath - 53 weeks
- Shard End - 59 weeks
- Bartley Green - 59 weeks
- Stockland Green - 60 weeks
- Bromford and Hodge Hill - 61 weeks
- Stirchley - 61 weeks
- Sutton Walmley and Minworth - 64 weeks
- Acocks Green - 64 weeks
The publication of this list provides a clear, if troubling, snapshot of the local social housing landscape, underscoring the significant postcode lottery faced by applicants in need of a council home.
