The number of households on the waiting list for social housing in Peterborough in each year since 1997, as at 1 April each year, is tabled as follows and also published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 600. For future reference purposes, the link for this table is as follows:
Peterborough UA 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2,634 2,921 3,129 3,347 3.072 2,648 2,113 4,853 6,044 6,287 Note: As reported by local authorities. Source: Communities and Local Government Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix Return (HSSA)
Local authorities in England report the numbers of households on their housing waiting list as at 1 April in their annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix returns. Not everyone on the waiting list is necessarily in urgent housing need. The waiting list includes those who consider social housing as their preferred or one of a number of housing options, and those who decide to get onto the waiting list ladder before they need or want to move house—particularly where the priority system is heavily based on waiting time. The size of the waiting list is not an indicator of absolute need, it is only useful as a broad indicator of housing demand in an area.