Scheme to cut homes waiting list

The council wants to keep empty properties to a minimum

A new system is being introduced in south Devon to help allocate social housing to cut waiting lists.

The scheme in Torbay is designed to be fairer by matching available homes to people's needs.

About 2,500 people are on Torbay Council's housing waiting list, but only 500 homes come up for rent a year.

The council hopes Homefinder Torbay will mean fewer will go back on the lists because of wanting a home of a different size or in a different area.

The council added it also hoped that by helping applicants in this way fewer properties were likely to remain empty - again helping to solve the housing shortage.