Housing waiting lists to reach record levels

Waiting lists for social housing in England are set to reach a record level by 2011, the National Housing Federation has warned. An extra 200,000 families over the next two years – including 80,000 people who will lose their home due to repossession or unemployment – will push the total to around two million people. The waiting list has increased from one million in 2001. The NHF added that house building will fall by 50 per cent in 2010 to just 70,000, further increasing pressures.