Demand for housing in Darlington has experienced a “significant increase” over the last three years. 

The scale of the issues with the council’s housing and homeless services have been laid bare in a new report, as Darlington Borough Council invested more than £1 million to mitigate the financial impact. 

The number of nights spent in emergency accommodation across the town increased by a staggering 98 per cent in 2022-23 to 7,308 nights from 3,697 the previous year. And data shows the number has also continued to increase, with 5,647 nights spent in emergency accommodation during the first three quarters of 2023-24. 

It means the council’s existing emergency accommodation provision has been rapidly used up, and it has had to find several alternatives like expensive hotels and out of area accommodation. 

A rise in Section 21 “no fault” evictions has also increased pressures on homelessness and housing services. The council received 1,842 presentations to its housing options service, compared to 1,745 in the previous year. In the first three quarters of 2023-24, 1,077 presentations were made.

After the devastation of receiving a “no fault” eviction notice, Sarah Chandler says she is struggling to secure a new home.

She said: “I have been told it will take me a year to get a council house despite having a no fault eviction notice and being the highest priority. How is this acceptable?”

The local authority’s existing temporary accommodation provision includes temporary council housing, emergency supported accommodation, hotels and out of area placements. 

In 2022-23, 395 households were placed in temporary accommodation compared to 281 for the previous year, an increase of 41 per cent. 

Residents argued rising house prices are restricting people from getting onto the property ladder. The median house price for a newly-built home in Darlington has increased by nearly £180,000 in the past 20 years. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows the price in 2003 of £135,000 increased to £154,500 in 2013 before sky-rocketing to £314,498 in 2023. 

Median house price (newly built dwellings)

2003 - 135,000

2013 - 154,500

2023 - 314,498

Meanwhile, Deborah Hewitson told how her son is “getting nowhere” while searching for a house and may be forced to rent privately “which costs a fortune”, she warned. 

“An ongoing challenge for the housing options team has been finding suitable accommodation and support for those individuals with complex needs,” the report read.

“This includes clients with multiple needs, repeat homeless presentations and clients who have lost their accommodation due to their behaviour.”

Data shows that 409 clients presenting had a mental health need (33% of the total); 161 clients presenting had drug issues (13 per cent of the total); and 214 clients presenting had an offending history (17 per cent of the total). 

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said: “In line with national trends, we have noticed an increase in the number of people approaching the council for homelessness assistance and in the number of Section 21s being served by landlords.

“This has resulted in more people needing to be placed into temporary accommodation, and they are spending longer there as the availability of permanent housing has not increased in line with demand.

“The cost to the local authority in 2023/24 was £1,104,763. We have received grant funding from various sources to help mitigate the financial impact and have been working closely with the voluntary sector to support clients.”