It sets the direction for our housing work over the next five years, helping more residents access safe, good-quality, and affordable homes and improving the housing services that support them.

The Strategy was agreed by Cabinet and approved by the Council Assembly. Together with the Housing Strategy Action Plan, it sets out how we will deliver more genuinely affordable and accessible homes, raise housing quality and safety standards, prevent homelessness earlier and strengthen support for residents.

Barking and Dagenham Housing Strategy 2026-2031 (PDF, 1.23 MB)

Shaped by residents

Residents told us the Strategy needs to focus on:

• Affordability
• The condition, maintenance and safety of homes
• Better support for people who are vulnerable or have additional needs
• Clearer communication about housing services and processes

The Strategy covers both council housing services and our wider role as the local housing authority. We will work with partners across housing, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector. It was developed with residents and stakeholders through engagement in 2025, including targeted sessions with disabled residents, young people, families with additional needs and leaseholders.

Our priorities

Over the next five years, we will focus on:

• More high-quality, accessible homes that meet local needs
• More affordable options that reflect local incomes
• Earlier help to prevent homelessness and reduce rough sleeping
• Support to live independently, including timely adaptations
• Safer, better quality homes, with rigorous standards and assured compliance
• Joined-up working in neighbourhoods to improve wellbeing and reduce inequalities

How we will deliver the Strategy - Housing Strategy Action Plan

The Strategy is supported by a Housing Strategy Action Plan, which sets out clear actions, lead teams, timescales and performance measures.

Housing Strategy 2026-2031 Action Plan (PDF, 433.39 KB)

Delivery will be overseen by a Housing Strategy Delivery Board, supported by a cross-council officer group and resident scrutiny, so progress is transparent and informed by lived experience. We will monitor performance against agreed indicators and review progress regularly. We will carry out a mid-term review in 2028 to refresh actions if circumstances change.

Get involved

Residents are central to the delivery of this Strategy. If you would like to join the Resident Scrutiny Group and help shape and review progress, please contact us using the email address below.

Contact 

We will publish progress updates on this page as the work continues. If you have questions about the Housing Strategy, want to share feedback, or would like to join the Resident Scrutiny Group, please email the Housing Strategy team: housingstrategy@lbbd.gov.uk