Woman's social housing wait 'beyond desperation'
BBC"I feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall."
Susan Musselwhite, from Paignton, Devon, said she had been searching for social housing after being given notice to leave her rental property in 2023, as her landlord plans to demolish it.
Figures obtained under a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to councils in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset showed that as of February 2026 more than 60,000 households were on the social housing register.
Musselwhite, who is visually impaired and has other complex health needs, said she had "gone beyond desperation" in her hunt for somewhere to live.
"I have been number one on the list a few times but never get a property," she said.
The 47-year-old, who has autoimmune and neurological conditions, said her current property had accessibility issues and no central heating.
"In the winter, I have two dehumidifiers going 24/7 otherwise the black mould is climbing up the walls and there's condensation running down the walls," she said.
"I rarely leave the property because of my ill health but I leave even less than I was because it is so unsafe to get in and out of, and I feel really isolated."
Musselwhite said she first applied for social housing under Torbay Council in October 2023 when she was given notice to leave her private rental and could not afford alternatives.
She added the council filed her form incorrectly at the time and her case never progressed.
When the landlord took the eviction case to court and the case was put on hold, she said she was advised by Torbay Council to stay living in the property until she found somewhere else to live.
The council has since backdated her homeless status to October 2023 and she has been on the social housing register since January 2026, she said.
In March 2026, she said she "couldn't contain her excitement" after being offered a bungalow in Ashburton.
However, she lost the property as she said she did not meet Teign Housing's policy of having a local connection in the area for five years.
"My sister is a local connection, she's under Teign Housing and is my carer, but because she had only lived there two years, I lost the property," she said.
"I was devastated and thought, 'Here we go again'."
Torbay Council said it recognised "housing difficulties and the threat of homelessness can be extremely stressful, particularly for people with additional health or support needs".
A spokesperson said the council was reviewing the circumstances of Musselwhite's case and "providing advice and assistance in line with housing legislation and local allocation policies" but they added decisions were made "in accordance with the relevant housing association's policies and eligibility criteria".
"Where a resident approaches the council for housing assistance, we assess their circumstances in accordance with our statutory duties and work with them to explore all available housing options," they continued.
"This can include advice on remaining in their current accommodation where it is safe and reasonable to do so, assistance with homelessness prevention, support to access Devon Home Choice, and referrals to relevant support services where appropriate."
Teign Housing has not responded to a BBC request for comment.
The BBC has also requested a comment from Musselwhite's landlord via LT Management Service. There has been no response.
The figures obtained by the BBC show that in February 2026:
- Almost 60,500 households were on the social housing register in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset (Somerset Council area) and Dorset (Dorset Council area)
- The average wait time was more than two years with people in areas such as Exeter waiting as long as three years
- More than 2,000 people in emergency temporary accommodation or hostels
The housing and homelessness charity Shelter said it believed housing problems were the worst they had ever been.
It said the number of households on the waiting list for 2025 was as follows:
- South West: 133,231
- Devon/Cornwall/Somerset Council/Dorset Council area: 61,908
While the number of households in temporary accommodation in December 2025 was:
- South West: 5,940
- Devon/Cornwall/Somerset Council and Dorset Council area: 2,187
'Severe housing crisis'
Stuart Francis-Dubois, Shelter's strategic lead for Devon and Cornwall, said: "People can't afford to continue to rent as rents are rising so quickly, and there's so little social housing available, the lists are enormous - quite a lot will never be housed."
The charity said 45 people were currently sleeping rough on the streets in Plymouth alone.
Plymouth City Council said it was experiencing "a severe and lasting housing crisis".
"There are currently more than 6,000 households on the housing waiting list who need a decent home that they can rent at an affordable price," a spokesperson said.
"Homelessness continues to increase and unfortunately some of those affected are now living in temporary accommodation and bed and breakfasts.
"There is simply not enough affordable housing – either social or private rental - to keep up with demand."
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "Our £39bn investment to boost social and affordable homes across England will tackle the housing crisis head on while councils work hard to house local people in need, prioritising the most vulnerable."
