THE waiting list for an ex-council house in Hyndburn is five years long, shock new figures have revealed.

A "massive" 3,000 people are on the waiting list for a property in the borough with new social landlord Hyndburn Homes.

Bosses at the company, that runs the 3,300 former council homes in the borough, said that demand was so high partly because private rent was becoming more expensive.

Nigel Fenton, head of neighbourhood services, said that the average rent for a two-bedroom Hyndburn Homes property was £50 per week. Privately that figure can be as much as £100, he said.

Mr Fenton added: "There is a very healthy demand for our properties and that is good because it shows we are doing something right.

"But I think there is a worry that there are too many people waiting."

The company, which took over Hyndburn's council house stock just over a year ago, has a turnover of around 400 properties each year, meaning that applicants can expect to wait several years to have a house.

Hyndburn Homes operates a high priority list, for people with urgent housing needs such as the prospect of homelessness or medical problems.

Mr Fenton added: "I think there is a problem with renting in Hyndburn. It is good for us to have a healthy demand for our properties but 3,000 is too much.

"The situation is now that there are people who are struggling to pay private landlords because prices are so high.

"That explains to some extent why our waiting list is so high. We keep prices affordable and also invest in the properties by refurbishing and repairing them.

"I'm sure there are some people who have put their name down on the list knowing that they don't want a Hyndburn Homes property now. But in a few years down the line they might do."

Peter Livesey, owner of Queen Street Estates in Great Harwood, said: "Rent prices have gone up a lot in Hyndburn over the last few years and that is as a direct result of the recent increases in house prices. It is becoming more and more difficult for people to pay their rents."

David Welsby, managing director of Hyndburn Council said: "Hyndburn Homes has proved itself more than capable of meeting its challenges and has managed to achieve a great deal in its first 12 months of operation."