In response to soaring rental rates that have rendered housing unattainable for local residents, a town has taken the unprecedented step of officially declaring a housing crisis. Frome Town Council has taken this measure to underscore the acute shortage of available housing within the town.
The average monthly rent within Frome has surged to £1,499, constituting a significant 50% of the average local salary. This disparity between rental costs and income has prompted Councillor Polly Lamb to propose the declaration, seeking to bring attention to the pressing issue at hand. Lamb voiced concern that the substantial increase in rents is progressively displacing lifelong residents who have deep-rooted connections to the community.
Frome joins the ranks of South Hams in Devon and Leicester as the third town in the nation to formally declare a housing crisis. While this declaration does not inherently resolve the challenges associated with housing, proponents like Ms. Lamb believe it will catalyze a heightened focus on housing-related matters within the council’s agenda.
The council’s declaration signifies a recognition of the gravity of the housing situation and aims to emphasize the urgency of finding viable solutions to address the housing shortage. As residents grapple with exorbitant rental rates that hinder their ability to remain in their hometown, the declaration serves as a clarion call for concerted action toward alleviating the housing crisis.
