Pressure mounts on housing in Bexley

The government has just released brand‑new data in Bexley — a clear signal of the mounting pressure on local housing.

Bexley’s housing crisis is the result of years of drift and a council that simply hasn’t shown up. The borough owns no council housing stock, so it relies almost entirely on housing associations — and their build rates have slowed sharply. With no local plan, no urgency, and no serious pressure on developers or housing associations, the result is obvious: barely any new social homes, spiralling rents, and a generation priced out.

Nearly 1,500 households wait for stable housing. Young people who grew up here can’t afford to stay. First-time buyers face rising prices and shrinking options. Families who just want a secure home end up paying more than they can afford in the private sector. And on top of all that, hundreds of long-term empty homes sit unused — a symbol of a council that’s stopped paying attention.

People know things don’t have to be like this. They want a council that treats housing as a priority, not a problem to park.

Dave Sexton, Lib Dem candidate for St Mary's and St James said: “Bexley needs a reset. We will push for real social-home delivery, bring empty properties back into use, and make housing local residents the priority again.”

It’s time to expect more — and demand it.