WDBC has carried out a survey of housing in Towns and Parishes in its area. Statistics for Okehampton makes interesting reading.

Housing

Average property prices of £253,000 within Okehampton in 2023, increasing by 1.2% from £250,000 in 2022. 
It should be noted that house prices have increased year on year over the last 5 years. 
11% of homes are 1 bedroom properties, 28.6% are 2 bedrooms, 40.7% are 3 bedrooms, 19.8% are 4 or more (which is lower than the 21.1% average for England and Wales). 

Occupancy ratings for bedrooms: 

37% have 2 or more spare bedrooms, 
35.8% have 1 spare bedroom, 
25.4% have the correct number of bedrooms for their household need, 
1.8% have are lacking a bedroom. 

Of the households in the parish, 34.9% own their home outright, 26.6% own with a mortgage or shared ownership, 14.4% live in social rented accommodation and 24.1% live in private rented accommodation or live rent free.

Renting in Okehampton

Average 2 bed private rental prices of £675 per calendar month between 2020 and 2022 (median). 
The maximum Local Housing Allowance is £792.83 per month for a 3 bed property 
In the EX20 postcode area, there has been a 28.8% decrease in demand for rental properties, whilst there has been a 16.2% decrease in available listings, in the period between Sept 22 and Sept 23. 
During the same period, there has been a 11.3% increase in the asking price on Rental Properties in the EX20 postcode area.

Affordable housing

The survey presents a breakdown of the current stock of affordable housing in the area. That is, properties that belong to a housing association and are either rented or in shared ownership. It lists properties by association, which include: Live West, Sanctuary, Aster, Tamar etc.. The total amount of such houses in Okehampton, is currently approximately 550 properties. On average, about 40 units change families per year at present. Properties with 1, 2 1nd 3 bedrooms are equally represented in that list while there is an absolute lack of 4 bedroomed houses. Devon Home choice which handles the lettings has statistics which demonstrate that the demand for the 1, 2 and 3 bedroomed properties is proportionate to the number available while demand for 4 bedroom properties, complete outstrips supply.

One can imagine that the reason that demand for 4 bedroom properties is so high, is not because couples have lots of children but that their older chioldren cannot find a property of their own to rent including a growing number of married children living with their parents.

Devon Home Choice also lists the number of applicants that they have registered and this currently stands at 250 which means as, Mark Renders, WDBC Housing Councillor recognises, that demads outstrips supply by at least a factor of five to one. Any suggestion, that in this area, anyone currently on the housing list and waiting to be housed is someone who does not have a valid long term local connection with the area or has employment reasons for requesting housing, is a complete fantasy and fabrication. Finally those on the housing ladder are required to submite information about their income and the average per family is £295 per week.

Recent development

The survey notes that there has been extensive new housing development off Crediton and Exeter Roads in recent years which have added at least 400 houses, to date, to the overall housing stock or which, currently, about 80 are in the affordable housing category.