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Emotional and Financial Struggles of Long-Term Council House Waiting in Midlothian
Mark Wells, a Midlothian resident and the founder of Food, Facts, Friends in Penicuik, has shared his challenges after waiting over a decade for a council house. At 48 years old, Wells is facing a significant strain, both emotionally and financially, due to a recent rent increase of 41%, raising his monthly payment from £600 to £850.
Wells assists members of his community who are also experiencing financial hardships, yet he finds himself in a similar predicament, often having to choose between paying rent and heating his home. He expressed concern about the substantial increase in rent, which he described as “a massive chunk of my household budget.” He noted the distress caused by having to forego heating to meet his rent obligations, creating a continuous cycle of anxiety about his living situation.
Having been on the council house waiting list for over ten years, Wells fears he will remain in private housing. This status reportedly disqualifies him from receiving priority for council housing. Wells stated, “because I’m already in private housing, I can’t even get priority for a council home” and emphasized the scarcity of available council houses as a critical issue.
The emotional toll of high rent prices and inadequate housing options is profound, with Wells arguing that the lack of affordable homes impacts both mental and physical health. He believes that insufficient council housing prevents local residents from establishing stable roots in their communities, fostering a sense of insecurity.
Currently, there are 2,512 individuals waiting for council housing in Penicuik and 6,818 across the Midlothian area. Council officials noted that, on average, residents in Penicuik can expect to wait around four years for council properties, though there are 591 applicants who have been waiting over five years and 196 who have waited more than a decade. With only 1,102 council properties in Penicuik, the council plans to allocate just 46 additional homes between 2025 and 2026.
Future developments include the construction of 46 council homes on Rullion Road in Penicuik, with an additional 12 homes to be built on the site of the old Wellington School, operated by Wheatley Homes East. Recent reports indicate that from 2020-21 to 2024-25, 92 affordable homes were completed in Penicuik, including council housing and social landlord units.
Midlothian Council aims to address the housing crisis with a strategy that seeks to provide high-quality, affordable housing for all. Plans include the construction of 1,500 new affordable housing units over the next five years. Despite securing £10.586 million from the Scottish Government for 2026/27 and an additional £15 million during the year, council officials expressed frustration about the limitations posed by funding constraints in their housebuilding efforts.
Cllr Stuart McKenzie, Cabinet Member for Housing, reinforced that delivering more affordable housing remains a priority, acknowledging the challenges faced due to rising building costs and funding issues, while assuring residents that the council is committed to addressing housing needs in Midlothian.
