Every day, Jade Hargood takes on two or three new housing cases—tenants struggling with soaring rents, eviction notices, or the slow grind of social housing waitlists. At Shelter Dorset, where she leads the Communities and Housing Rights team, the calls for help keep coming.
“People in the BCP area,” Hargood says, “are closer to homelessness than home ownership.”
In August 2024, the average monthly rent for private accommodation in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) was £1,288—a 10.1 per cent increase from August 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics.
“People are stuck renting, and renting is getting more expensive,” Hargood says. “The alternative is social housing, but that is becoming less and less possible.”
Housing in Bournemouth is unaffordable for many. Residents contend with rising rents, damp and mould-infested flats, and a severe shortage of homes. These pressures have pushed homelessness rates higher across the coastal town.
Bournemouth’s appeal as a seaside destination clashes with the reality of a deepening housing crisis—one that affects students, young professionals, families, and the elderly alike. But there is a glimmer of progress. A recent bi-monthly homelessness count recorded the town’s lowest figure in two years.
Kieron Wilson, BCP’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, who is an independent councillor, sees it as a step forward. “Our snapshot figure was at 61 people, as opposed to 63 last year—a small reduction, but when the trend has been rising sharply. Any drop is positive.”
Still, the fundamental issue remains. Ultimately, there are not enough safe and affordable homes for everyone.
With councils across UK struggling for funding and construction costs soaring, the challenges are mounting. “The market is terrible,” Wilson says. “Skilled labour has decreased over the years. In 2008 you had 20 per cent more construction workers than you do now—all of that plays into a costing issue.” He believes the national government must step up and provide adequate funding.
Labour MP for Bournemouth West, Jessica Toale, has been addressing the crisis by hosting community housing surgeries in recent months.
“More than 2,000 families are on housing waiting lists here,” she told the Breaker. “We also have very high rent and property costs relative to peoples wages in Bournemouth.”
Common concerns that come up include overcrowding, damp, and mould. At one of the surgeries, which the Breaker attended, representatives from St Mungo’s, Shelter, DWP, and Dorset Police provided information on housing options many residents might not have otherwise known about.
Among those most affected by the crisis are students, who struggle with high rents, poor living conditions, and limited housing options. Alex Caton-Bradley, a 21-year-old forensic psychology student, says: “Housing here isn’t where it needs to be—rents in Bournemouth are disproportionately higher than in many other parts of the country.”
For some, the problem is compounded by poor living conditions. Delaney Shaw, a master’s student, says: “It’s really expensive, and housing is not maintained. A lot of students exacerbate these issues because they can’t afford to put the heating on.”
International students face additional hurdles. “When I moved out of student accommodation, I found out I needed a UK-based guarantor,” Shaw says. “I knew absolutely no one, so I had no connections. I was lucky to find a place that accepted an international guarantor, but that’s exceedingly rare.”
She urges MPs to take action. “Be proactive, follow through on what you were elected for,” Shaw says. “Talk to your constituency.”
