Demand for housing increases in Wealden

The recent addition of 387 new affordable homes across the district in 2023/24 provided much-needed relief to some residents, but the need remains high.

Despite recent efforts by Wealden District Council to expand the availability of affordable housing, many families and individuals remain on the waiting list, struggling to find suitable accommodation and the demand for housing in Wealden has risen by 81% in the last two years.

Households in temporary accommodation in Wealden has increased by 300% since 2020. This increase highlights the growing need for affordable housing in the district to meet demand from Wealden residents and reduce the risk of homelessness.

In April 2023 there were 717 households on the register, this number rose to 1071 households by 1 April 2024 and now currently stands at 1298 – an 81% increase from 2023 to 2025, reflecting the escalating shortage of affordable housing in Wealden.

Councillor Daniel Manvell, Alliance for Wealden (Labour Party) and lead councillor for Housing, Benefits and Revenues, said, "With high mortgage interest rates, soaring private rents, and the ongoing cost of living crisis, many residents are struggling. We have seen a rapid increase in the number of people on our Housing Register in the last two years. 

"Demand for affordable housing far exceeds availability and we are determined to do all we can to help. We are pleased to have secured 387 new affordable homes across the district last year and to have increased the number of new social homes being let from 10 years ago, - one of only 42 councils out of hundreds of local authorities to do so.

"We want to do much more to ease the housing crisis for our residents, so we are also lobbying government to give us the financial certainty and freedom to invest in building many more social homes at genuinely affordable prices.”

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