Call for return of Wakefield Council housing after waiting list quadruples

The council took the decision in 2005 to hand over around 35,000 properties to Wakefield District Housing, now known as Vico Homes.

An opposition councillor said the decision by the Labour-run authority has “undermined the council’s ability to effectively meet its duties in housing residents.”

Jakob Williamson, leader of the council’s Unity group, said in 2004, the year prior to the transfer, the number of households in the district on the housing waiting list stood at around 6,500, compared to 27,000 in March of this year.

Coun Williamson has called for the return of council-owned properties in a motion to be debated by councillors today.

The motion also calls for developers to be required to build more affordable homes when granting planning permission for housing schemes.

Coun Williamson, who represents Hemsworth, said: “Vico Homes is failing to meet the scale of our district’s housing needs and failing over 27,000 vulnerable households who are currently on the housing waiting list.

“Delivering a significant proportion of affordable homes for social rent, in council ownership, will provide greater public accountability, long-term affordability and better outcomes for our residents.

“Undertaking a full stock transfer of the council’s housing in 2005 and creating WDH (now Vico Homes) has undermined the council’s ability to effectively meet its duties in housing residents.”

Coun Williamson said figures for November 2025 revealed the council now leases 221 homes that it once owned and managed from Vico, describing the situation as ‘ludicrous.’

He added: “As of July 2025, there were 275 households in temporary accommodation, at a cost of over £950,000 to the council for the current financial year, with this expected to be significantly higher.”

The motion calls for the council to adopt a range of measures, including a review of affordable housing and accessibility policies.