Housing Needs Survey Results

Housing

• Median average property prices of £401,375 in 2022, increasing by 5.6% from £380,000 in 2021. 
  • It should be noted that house prices have experienced a steady increase in recent years within the parish. 
• 13.1% of homes are 1 bedroom properties, 30.6% are 2 bedrooms, 39.1% are 3 bedrooms, 17.2% are 4 or more (which is higher than the 21.1% average for England and Wales). 
• Occupancy ratings for bedrooms: 
  • 39.9% have 2 or more spare bedrooms, 
  • 34% have 1 spare bedroom, 
  • 24.8% have the correct number of bedrooms for their household need, 
  • 1.1% are lacking 1 bedroom and 0.2% are lacking 2 or more bedrooms.

Renting in Dartmouth

• Average 2 bed private rental prices of £790 per calendar month between 2020 and 2022 (median). 
• The maximum Local Housing Allowance is £598.35 per month for a 2 bed property 
• In the TQ6 postcode area, there has been a 2.2% decrease in demand for rental properties, whilst there has been a 12.5% decrease in available listings, when comparing Jan 24 and Jan 23. 
• During the same time, there has been a 11.4% increase in the asking price on Rental Properties in the TQ6 postcode area.

Affordable housing

• Current stock (approximate): 
  • Live West - 297 rented accommodation. 5 shared ownership properties, 72 sheltered properties suited. 
  • Sanctuary - 22 rented properties. 
  • Stonewater - 33 rented accommodation, 27 shared ownership. 
  • Westward - 19 rented accommodation, 4 shared ownership. 
  • Aster - 14 rented accommodation, with upcoming completions including rented and shared ownership at Little Cotton Farm. 
  • Guinness - 102 rented accommodation, 10 shared ownership units. 
• Turnover of stock between Jan 2019 and Feb 2024 included 115 x 1 beds, 76 x 2 beds, 25 x 3 beds and 1 x 4 bed properties

Devon Home Choice

• There are 151 applicants registered with a local connection through residence 
• There are 39 applicant registered with a local connection through immediate family connection and 19 through employment. 
• The average income of households registered with Devon Home Choice with a local connection to Dartmouth is £14,014 annually.

Dartmouth Academy

• Dartmouth Academy provides for children aged 3 years until 19 years. 
• The number of children enrolled at the school has decreased in recent years and remained significantly below the school’s capacity of 810 pupils. 
• The percentage of children eligible for Free School Meals has also decreased. This is an indicator of income and affordability of essential provisions.

From the census

• 31.8% travel less than 10km to their work place. 27.2% work mainly from home. 
• 49.9% of the parish population are economically active and in employment, 2.1% are unemployed. 48% are economically inactive compared to the average for Devon at 43.6%.
• 41.9% of households owns their home outright, compared to the 42.2% average for Devon and the 45% average for the South Hams. 18.7% own with mortgage or shared ownership, 21.5% social rent their properties, 17.9% private rent or live rent free. 
• 37.4% of households in the parish are single person households. 40.2% are two people households, which is above the average for England. 11.6% are three person households, and 10.8% are four or more person households. 
• 90.8% provide no unpaid care. 3.1% provide 50 or more hours of unpaid care a week. 1.8% provide 20 to 49 hours a week, and 4.3% provide 19 hours or less a week. 
• 46.9% of households are not deprived in any dimension, compared to the average for England, at 48.4%. 36.7% are deprived in one dimension, and 13% deprived in two dimensions