Green deputy leader Eva Tabbasam told her cabinet colleagues today that “too many” council tenants were dissatisfied with Waltham Forest’s housing service, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter
“Too many” Waltham Forest residents are homeless or are dissatisfied with their housing, a top councillor said.
Councillor Eva Tabbasam said this week that “too many residents are still living in temporary accommodation, too many tenants are dissatisfied with aspects of our landlord service,” and there were “still far too many homes that do not meet the standards our residents deserve”.
Around 1,527 residents were living in temporary accommodation – such as hotels or bed-and-breakfast-style housing – in April.
On top of that, 61% of residents living in social housing – whose landlord is the council itself – said they were satisfied. That percentage has stayed exactly the same since 2022, according to a new report.
Meanwhile, 13% of homes in the borough do not meet the Decent Homes Standard – warm, safe and free from damp and mould. The council is working to lower this by another 5% this year, and the figure is down from 19% the year before.
The northeast London borough faces an “unprecedented housing crisis,” characterised by “rising rents, limited housing supply, and increasing homelessness,” the cabinet member for housing said.
These factors are putting “enormous pressure” on both residents and council services.
Due to these growing pressures, almost half of homeless and at-risk Waltham Forest residents are now being housed outside the borough.
A recent council report revealed that 47% were living beyond the borough in April – however, this was down from a peak of 65% in October 2024.
While the new Green administration says it has made progress on improving the borough’s housing, said there was still “much to do”.
“We are not complacent about what the work ahead looks like,” the Cann Hall ward councillor said.
The Greens – who won control of the council in May – have proposed reviewing the borough’s housing strategy for the next three years, and consulting with residents, councillors and ‘other stakeholders’.
It will give the administration the chance to “listen to communities, reflecting on changing needs,” and ensure a focus on “prevention, affordability, and quality and resident experience”.
During her address to councillors, Cllr Tabbasam said it was important to acknowledge Waltham Forest’s progress alongside the “significant challenges that remain”.
She pointed to the decreasing number of households in TA, which fell from a peak of 1,710 in September 2025 to the 1,527 in April. Preventative work has also helped keep residents off the street.
The council also remains one of the country’s leading social-homebuilders, amid a backdrop of national backdrop of stagnating developments.
The problems Waltham Forest face are not unique, and London is behind on its citywide housing targets.
Last year, the Greater London Authority said work had begun on 9,366 affordable homes. up While this is up from 3,991 in 2024/25, is still below the peak of 25,658 in 2022/23.
Waltham Forest says this shows the ongoing impact of “rising build costs, stagnating sales, higher interest rates and tightened regulatory requirements,” over which the council has “limited influence”.
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