The General Needs Housing Study highlights issues with affordability across all tenures. Overall, Cumberland has seen a 17.6% increase in the prices of homes priced in the lower quartile and median ranges. This figure masks very differing figures within Cumberland, with house prices in the Lake District National Park – West Lakes increasing by 53.6% and house prices in Carlisle City rising by a comparatively low 10.36%.

The cost of a privately rented home has also increased across Cumberland. Since 2010, the cost of renting a home in the lower quartile price range has increased by 29.0%, and by 34.1% to rent a home in the median price range. Only the cost of renting shared accommodation in the West Cumbria Broad Rental Market Area is covered by Local Housing Allowance. 

Rising costs in the private rented sector increases pressure on registered providers to provide genuinely affordable housing.

There is a clear connectivity between a lack of affordable housing and an increase in homelessness and for longer periods. The statutory timeframe to make a decision about a person's housing situation is 56 days and the average waiting times in band A on Cumbria Choice are much higher. The lack of affordable housing options for those receiving a service through the homelessness and prevention route is a challenge, particularly for low income families.

Table 8: household income required for renting to be affordable

Table 9: household income required for home ownership to be affordable (based on 3.5 x income) by sub-area

New homes are important for the broader sustainability of rural communities. However, people living in rural areas can face challenges in terms of housing supply and affordability. Cumberland’s rural, diverse landscape poses challenges for the housing market. Transport and other infrastructure issues are prevalent in rural areas.

The General Needs Housing Study identified that:

The study further noted that “Cumberland is a rural county with limited alternative modes of transport and a high dependency on road trave, and there is an evidenced need for affordable housing in rural parishes in all sub-areas”.

Second homes and holiday lets are prevalent in rural areas, which adds further pressure to the rural housing market.

Since 2019 to 2020, no homes have been provided on rural exception site in Cumberland, and affordable provision in smaller settlements has been limited, with only 91 new-build affordable homes across Cumberland.

Table 10: affordable new homes in settlements with a population of less than 3,000 people

Cumberland has an older age structure compared to regional and national data. In the 2021 Census, 23% of our residents were aged 65 years and over. Population growth is projected to be concentrated in the older age groups (those aged 65). To meet this growth in older households, the General Needs Housing Study recommends that 15-20% of new homes should be level access.

It is important to provide housing suitable for older persons to allow them access to a range of homes to suit their needs. This will have a positive effect on available housing stock, and improved health and well-being will lessen the impact of inappropriate housing on health and social care services.

The need and priorities for supported housing will be detailed in the Supported Housing strategy. However, it must be remembered that not all older persons will require supported accommodation. Many older people will be able to live independently in suitable general needs accommodation.

Table 11: change in population 2022 to 2039 by age group

It has long been established that poor quality housing conditions adversely affects health, and the longer the exposure to poor conditions, the greater the impact on physical and mental health. It has been estimated that poor housing in England costs the NHS £4.1 billion per year.

The Stock Condition Study advises that the best predictor for the overall condition of housing stock is the age of the properties. The age of a dwelling also affects energy efficiency as building techniques and regulations have changed over time, as well as additional wear and tear to the property.

Table 12: number of households in Cumberland by property age

Excess cold

Households living in poorly heated homes are at greater risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. England has an average of 1.9% of properties with excess cold. The average in Cumberland is 6.4% for owner-occupied properties, and 5.4% for privately rented properties. This accounts for approximately 7,400 homes in Cumberland.

Table 13: percentage of households with excess cold by age of property

Damp and mould

The effects of damp and mould can cause serious illness and, in the most severe cases, death. The presence of damp and mould can also affect tenants' mental health. England has an average of 4% of properties experiencing damp. Cumberland's figures are 5.4% for owner-occupied properties, and 8% for privately rented properties. This accounts for approximately 6,500 homes in Cumberland.

Energy inefficiency is closely linked to fuel poverty, and those living in inefficient homes tend to be those who can least afford to pay higher heating costs. The Stock Condition Study states that government data indicates that in 2022, 14.4% of households in Cumberland lived in fuel poverty. This is above the average figure for both England and the North-West.

We have seen many challenges in prior schemes for retrofitting homes, particularly in Cumberland where we have a high proportion of ‘difficult-to-treat’ homes. In Cumberland, 25% of housing stock was built before 1900 and over 50% was built before 1939. These older properties are challenging due to their construction being unsuitable for some types of measures or would require a higher cost to remedy than the schemes can allow, and other factors such as damp, asbestos, electrics and roof condition can add further difficulty to installations.

Properties that are in conservation areas or areas of outstanding natural beaty, or that are listed buildings or park homes can also mean the types of measures available is reduced due to planning restrictions, or not viable under the funding and cost caps. Additionally, for private sector homes, the owners may not always want the measures offered for a variety of reasons.

Table 14: percentage of dwellings by age and SAP score

Including, but not limited to:

The Renters Rights Bill is currently going through the legislative process, but in its latest form it will have a significant impact on the private rented sector and the wider work of the council. The council's role in the implementation of this bill includes the following:

• the creation of a private rented sector database to be used by local authorities to identify poor quality and non-compliant properties, and who owns them
• a private rented sector ombudsman service will be established - local authorities can take action against landlords who do not join, or anyone marketing a property owned by an unregistered landlord
• the bill will commit the government to consulting on plans for reformed Decent Homes standard which will be expanded to apply to private rented properties
• strengthened local authority enforcement powers, and a requirement for local authorities to report on enforcement activity
• impact on the work of the housing options team and a potential increase in households registering for social housing

The Support Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 came into force in August 2023. Changes affecting local authorities are:

• a requirement to review supported housing in their areas and develop strategies
• powers to create local licensing schemes for exempt accommodation

The impact of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 will be examined in detail in the Supported Housing Strategy.

A legislative framework will be introduced as progress is made towards devolved local powers for Cumbria. The council will have to react to each piece of legislation and ensure that key areas, such as housing, are ready to function on day one of the Strategic Authority.

Some of the housing stock in Cumberland is unavailable for use as a permanent home. Primarily these properties are being used as holiday lets or second homes, and many potential homes are standing empty. 

Holiday lets are common in tourist hotspots, such as the Lake District National Park. In October 2024, 1,679 properties in Cumberland were listed on booking websites as available for holiday lets.

Second homes are scattered throughout the National Park and tend to be clustered around urban areas on the coast and in Carlisle. Council Tax figures for 2024 to 2025 show there are 3,162 second homes registered in Cumberland, equivalent to 2.3% of the properties in Cumberland. 

Only three parishes in Cumberland have no second homes registered – Bewaldeth & Snittlegarth, Denton Upper and Kirklinton. The parishes which have the highest percentage of housing stock used as second homes are all in the National Park:

Table 15: parishes in Cumberland with the highest percentage of second homes

Empty homes play a part in a rolling housing market, but properties that are habitually empty don't contribute to housing Cumberland's population and can lead to community breakdown. This breakdown may be caused by the property becoming a target for anti-social behaviour and crime or empty homes becoming so prevalent that they affect the infrastructure of a community.

There are currently 1,808 empty homes in Cumberland. Over 50% of these homes have been empty for between one and four years, with a further 5% empty for more than 10 years.

Table 16: parishes in Cumberland with the highest percentage of empty properties

In 2022, the legacy district Council’s in partnership with the Lake District National Park and Yorkshire Dales National Park, carried out a GTAA.  The main consideration of this study was to provide evidence to support the provision and pitches and plots to meet the current and future accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

The table provides a summary of the need identified in Cumberland during the last GTAA.

Table 17: total amount of provision in Cumberland 2024 to 2040

Cumberland Council recognises that a strong relationship with our stakeholders is key to achieving our priorities and building long-term success into our communities. Since LGR, and the resulting changes to council structure, it has been necessary to re-build existing relationships with many key stakeholders. Pre-LGR, each council had its own relationship with stakeholders, often with different contacts. These relationships must now be streamlined to remain functional.

LGR has also resulted in the need for the housing team to create new, innovative relationships to ensure that the council meets its wider remit. For example, we now collaborate with local NHS Integrated Care Boards to ensure services meet the needs of residents. 

The results of the GNHS indicate a need for building relationships with rural housing enablers, and small and medium enterprise builders. The Stock Condition Study shows a need to develop relationships with sustainable warmth providers. 

The number of young people under 35 years experiencing homelessness has increased significantly in Cumberland over the past five years. Particularly for young people who have additional tenancy sustainment needs including care experienced, young pregnant females, young families, and young people working on a low wage. 

This rise is attributed to a lack of affordable and sufficient accommodation supply of 1-bedroom properties (both within the private and social housing sector) across Cumberland to fully meet the increase in demand; increase in local rent levels; low earnings and low hours employment contracts; as well as a lack of suitable supported accommodation provision and rehousing pathways for young people to access to meet their specific accommodation and support needs. 

In relation to care experienced young people experiencing homelessness, Cumberland has seen a 195% increase in statutory homelessness cases over the review period, specifically in Carlisle which has seen a 300% increase in statutory prevention and relief cases. This is an annual average increase in Cumberland across the period of 32% year on year; with an average year on year increase in Carlisle of 43%.

From 2020 to 2021 and 2023 to 2024, Cumberland has seen a 70.6% increase in the number of homelessness presentations for those aged 16 to 17years; with an average increase across the period of 20% year on year. 

Key aspects to note include:

• 48% of all 16 to 17 year-old cases were within the Carlisle locality area
• 59% of all 16 to 17 year-old cases were female