Key Facts
Facts about Council Housing in Birmingham
- The city council has approximately 59,000 properties, and this is decreasing each year – in 1981 the council had over 123,000 properties.
- There are currently over 22,000 households on the housing register.
- Of these, 6,620 are in Band A and 6800 are in Band B.
- The council advertised only 2169 properties between January 2023 and August 2023, and this is decreasing each year.
- Even if no new applicants applied, it would take many years to clear the current housing register.
- 8% of our properties are designated for older people – aged 55 and over (sheltered properties).
- The Council has over 4,700 households living in Temporary Accommodation (TA).
- There were 1,600 homeless presentations in the first 3 months of 2023.
- Just under 450 (28%) of those were secured accommodation for 6 months plus.
LARGER ACCOMMODATION IS VERY SCARCE
• There were only 25 properties with 4 bedrooms let between January and June 2023.
• In the last 6 months the council only let 2 properties that had 5 bedrooms but have 745
households on the housing register for this sized property.
• The Councils TOTAL stock of 6 bedroom or larger properties anywhere in the city is 14. This equates
0.02% of stock.
- Between January and Jue 2023, the council did not let any properties that had 6 bedrooms or larger but have 155 households on the housing register for this sized property.
BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR CHANCES OF SECURING A COUNCIL PROPERTY
• Large families – even in Band A will wait several years to secure a council house.
• All council properties are in great demand however houses are in greater demand than flats and in
some areas the average applicant will wait over 20 years to secure a property.
Please follow see here for information on the average waiting time for properties advertised through Birmingham Choice and Recent Lets:
Average Waiting Time and Recent Lets