Brighton residents react to council's housing scheme

Brighton and Hove City Council announced that some council homes which become vacant between January 19 and May 1 will be used to help ease pressures on the city’s homelessness services.

The scheme has been set up due to the “significant” financial impact of the rising numbers of people needing to use nightly-paid temporary accommodation.

The council says the number of people using this accommodation have “risen sharply” in the past few years, from 114 people in 2022 to 520 by November 2025.

It anticipates the short-term measure would make up to 80 empty homes available for temporary accommodation and save approximately £0.75 million over the coming year.

The council said the decision to go ahead has been taken by Councillor Bella Sankey, the Leader of the Council, due to the "pressing financial situation".

It warned that it will cause delays for some people currently on the housing register, affecting homes advertised for lettings from the bidding cycle beginning 29 January.

Reactions on Facebook were mixed, showing both support and concerns about the plan.

Mr Ian Woodman said: "Give these homes to people and families who have been waiting on the housing list for years."

Ms Amanda Michaels who said: “These should be given to local people and families and I can understand a few empty properties held back like 10-20, but not 80 properties when there are desperate local people with needs. The policy must be local homes for local people as it's the only way local UK families can stay together instead of having to live miles away and lose contact.”

However, not all feedback was negative. Ms Sue Crossley said: "I am on the council waiting list but don't begrudge the homeless this at all."

John Holmes said: "The temporary nightly accommodation is not very nice and the council is to be applauded for trying to resolve this with their own accommodation."

Ms Marjorie Leeds noted: "Homeless people are assisted with going on the council list. They often have to go to temporary housing first."

Pauline Godden said:" As long as it is the homeless who are from this town first and not outsiders."

Yasmine Salih said: "They said this a few years ago though but then put the rent on those flats to £1,200m and no homeless were housed. will see."

Debate also turned to the government's wider housing policy, with Ms Katie Wade asking: "Instead of building all these "affordable housing" why can't they build more social housing instead for local people on the list for years?"