PEOPLE are having to live with the "shocking reality" of having to wait as long as ten years for a council house with thousands on waiting lists.

Figures from West Dorset District Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council acquired by the Echo show the state of the waiting list for council housing.

There are currently 1,314 applicants on the register for Weymouth and Portland and 1,255 for West Dorset.

The councils do not own any councils houses as they all belong to housing associations.

For some types of accommodation, the wait can be as long as ten years.

In Weymouth and Portland there are 134 three bedroom house lets and the longest wait time is ten years, compared to an average of 21 months.

In West Dorset, people can be waiting as long as ten years for two bedroom flats or maisonettes, two bedroom houses and three bedroom houses.

WPBC's figures also show that a one bedroom general needs accommodation can have as long a wait as nine years as can a two bedroom flat or maisonette.

Cllr Timothy Yarker, West Dorset District Council's portfolio holder for housing and Cllr Gill Taylor, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's briefholder for housing said in a joint statement: "The Housing Register is an accurate and up-to-date picture of inadequately housed families within West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland who are looking to be rehoused in social housing.

"The register reflects the demand for social rented homes in the area, and some categories of housing and locations are naturally more popular than others. This can mean that in some cases applicants who are looking for a particularly high demand type of property in a high demand area will indeed have to wait several years before they are able to successfully bid for a home that meets their needs.

"The bidding process allows applicants choice; some prefer to be flexible in the type and location of home they are prepared to bid for, and are likely to be housed more quickly than those who seek homes with very specific criteria. Some applicants will inevitably have a long wait. A more representative figure perhaps is the average waiting time.

"Nevertheless, both Weymouth and Portland BC and West Dorset DC are working hard to try and increase the stock of affordable housing in the area."

The National Housing Federation said that the figures shows that the housing crisis is affecting Dorset and called the waits a "shocking reality".

Jenny Allen, the federation's external affairs manager, said: "These figures provide yet more proof that the housing crisis is affecting all parts of the country – and that includes Dorset. As rents and house prices spiral ever higher, more and more people will inevitably look to the social sector to provide a secure home instead. Sadly, there are just not enough homes to keep up with demand, leading to the shocking reality of people waiting for a home for as long as ten years.

“The Government together with housing associations can take the action needed to build the homes we need. By giving housing associations the freedom to use money already set aside for housing, the Government can get Britain building, provide thousands more homes across the country and bring council house waiting lists down.”