Southampton Council Reports Housing Improvements, Joins Government Homebuilding Scheme

Southampton City Council has been selected as one of ten councils in England to join the government-funded Council Housebuilding Support Service (CHoSS), designed to boost council-led housebuilding by providing training, resources, and peer networking opportunities. This initiative aims to help the council increase the number of council homes built in the city, addressing critical housing needs. Concurrently, Southampton is making progress on housing improvements after a critical social housing regulator report revealed that about half of its 18,000 properties did not meet government standards. Efforts include installing new windows in 25 homes per week, reducing empty properties, and completing more repairs on the first visit, while a new draft housing strategy proposes inspecting properties every five years to improve oversight. Despite these advancements, approximately 8,000 people remain on the council housing waiting list, highlighting ongoing demand and the challenge ahead. Councillors acknowledge past shortcomings and emphasize the need for continued work to improve housing conditions and delivery.