More than 4,300 households are now on the housing register in West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland and North Dorset.

The latest figures, for the first quarter of the financial year, show a steady rise over the previous quarter – a trend which had continued for several years.

The highest number on the list is for West Dorset with 1,694 registered as wanting a home, followed by Weymouth and Portland at 1,676 and North Dorset at 958. Figures for the previous quarter were 1,685, 1,648 and 934.

The statistics, which will go before local councillors next week (Sept 11), also show that only North Dorset is meeting its target for processing housing register application in time, taking an average of six days, compared to the target of 9 days. West Dorset is taking 12 days compared to the target 9 days and Weymouth and Portland 20 days, measured against the same nine-day target.

The report says that some staff shortages and changes in team members account for missing the targets but that the figures for the following quarter, should be close to, or on target, once again.

While waiting lists have grown the number of families being housed in housing association properties has fallen, or remained static.

In West Dorset, councillors will be told that there has been a sharp slow down in households being placed in homes due to fewer new builds and relets becoming available. In North Dorset the figures are down a little and in Weymouth and Portland remains static.

The West Dorset figures show 68 households being placed, compared to 102 in the previous quarter; in North Dorset there were 31, compared to 37 in the previous quarter and in Weymouth and Portland 42, the same as the previous quarter.

All three councils have seen a fall in new applications, compared to the previous winter quarter which is usually higher.

At the same time the number of households in temporary, bed and breakfast accommodation has increased to 21 in Weymouth and Portland compared to 17 the previous quarter; 5 in West Dorset compared to 6; and North Dorset 4, compared to 2 the previous quarter.