West Berkshire property prices up by 8.7 per cent – but hundreds more need help with housing

The cost of houses in West Berkshire continued to rise over the year – with figures showing an average 8.7 per cent rise.

This time last year, a so-called first-time buyer property was priced at £288,978, compared to £311,844 in the first quarter of this year.

The average price of a home in West Berkshire increased from £364,805 to £396,372 in the same period.

Conversely, the number of households prevented from becoming homeless declined – but there are more people on the housing register.

This was due to a significant drop in the number of available, affordable (compared to the local housing allowance) private rented sector properties.

There are now 875 households on the housing register – an increase of 194 on last year.

Those claiming Universal Credit dropped from 600 to 285. The council said all rough sleepers in the district were offered accommodation when first identified.

Housing benefit claims processing times were impacted by the increased volume of claims relating to Covid, and as the cost of living rises, the council reported that there was an increase in Exceptional Hardship claims.

The figures are contained in a report looking at the overall economic health and performance of the district, to be put before the council executive next week (Thursday).