Demand and Prospects information
Social housing in Manchester is in very high demand
Social housing in Manchester is in very high demand. There are currently more than 20,000 households on the Manchester Housing Register waiting for a home.
The table below shows the number of households currently registered by priority band and bedroom need.
Bedroom Need | Band 1 | Band 2 | Band 3 | Band 4 | Band 5 | Total |
|---|
1 bed | 706 | 2888 | 269 | 4906 | 186 | 8955 |
|---|
2 bed | 196 | 3184 | 55 | 2136 | 30 | 5601 |
|---|
3 bed | 39 | 1852 | 956 | 1063 | 13 | 3923 |
|---|
4 bed | 129 | 843 | 232 | 119 | 4 | 1327 |
|---|
5 bed | 33 | 192 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 240 |
|---|
6 bed | 15 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 31 |
|---|
7 bed | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
|---|
Total | 1120 | 8973 | 1519 | 8236 | 235 | 20083 |
|---|
Information correct as at June 2026
What does this mean for me?
The number of people waiting for social housing is much higher than the number of homes that become available each year. As a result, many applicants wait several years before being rehoused.
Most homes are allocated to applicants with the highest housing priority. This means applicants in lower priority bands may have very limited rehousing opportunities, particularly for family homes.
Key things to know
- Family homes were only allocated to applicants in Bands 1 and 2 during the last reporting year.
- Applicants in Band 2 requiring a one-bedroom general needs home and awarded between 2023 and 2026 are likely to wait more than 5 years.
- Applicants in Band 2 requiring a two or three-bedroom family home and awarded between 2023 and 2026 are likely to wait more than 5 years, and may wait up to 8 years.
- Applicants in Band 2 requiring a four-bedroom or larger family home with an award date after 2020 are likely to wait well over 8 years. Applicants more recently placed in Band 2 may wait 15 to 20 years or longer.
- Waiting times for adapted properties may be longer than average due to high demand and limited availability.
- One-bedroom properties with age restrictions often have shorter waiting times than general needs properties because fewer applicants are eligible to bid.
Applicants in Bands 3 and 4
Housing opportunities for applicants in Bands 3 and 4 are very limited.
However, there may be options available for:
- applicants aged 50 and over seeking non-family accommodation in some parts of the city
- applicants aged over 40 seeking a two-bedroom flat in some areas of North Manchester (subject to an affordability assessment)
If you are in Band 3 or Band 4, you should regularly check your Manchester Move account for suitable properties.
If you are likely to face a long wait
If the information above suggests you may face a lengthy wait for social housing, you may wish to consider:
- widening the areas where you bid
- bidding for age-restricted accommodation if you are eligible
- considering different property types, where appropriate for your household
- exploring other housing options alongside your Manchester Move application
Recent lettings results
The table below shows average waiting times for households that were successfully rehoused between April 2025 and March 2026.
This information can help you understand current demand for different types of housing and the likelihood of receiving an offer.
Band 1 Band 2
Property type | Average wait | Number of lets | Average wait | Number of lets |
|---|
1 Bed Flat - General needs | 9 months | 388 | 3 years | 269 |
|---|
1 Bed Flat - 55+ | 9 months | 66 | 1 year, 7 months | 117 |
|---|
2 Bed Non Family | 10 months | 97 | 1 year, 10 months | 182 |
|---|
2 Bed Family | 7 months | 179 | 3 years, 10 months | 320 |
|---|
3 Bed Family | 9 months | 126 | 4 years, 10 months | 220 |
|---|
3 Bed 2 Living Rooms | 1 year, 8 months | 26 | 6 years, 1 month | 13 |
|---|
4 Bed Family | 3 years | 19 | Not available | 5 |
|---|
4 Bed 2 Living Rooms | Not available | 5 | Not available | 2 |
|---|
5 Bed | Not available | 1 | Not available | 0 |
|---|
Based on home let between April 2025 and March 2026.
Important
These waiting times are averages based on households that were successfully rehoused during the period shown. They are provided to give an indication of current demand and housing prospects.
Future waiting times will depend on the number of suitable homes that become available and may be significantly longer in areas where demand is particularly high.