3,631 families on housing list

There are 3,631 families from Rochdale on the waiting list, according to the survey —106,652 for the whole of Greater Manchester.

The National Housing Federation (NHF), which represents independent, not-for-profit housing associations in England claims it would take 274,190 years to clear the backlog of Greater Manchester families waiting for social housing.

Jon Longden, NHF lead manager for the North-West, said: “With the lowest number of new homes for 90 years, the only things we are building are long-term problems for schooling, health and jobs.

“The North-West desperately needs a strong social housing sector to help economic development.

“The Government must act quickly so more affordable homes are built and empty homes are brought back into use before the North’s broken housing market gets any worse.”