How many of the Millbrook Studio flats have actually been rented out?
Politics / Sat 25th Oct 2025 at 01:35pm
BACK in June, a member of the Harlow Alliance Party asked the portfolio holder for Housing, cllr David Carter, how many of the Millbrook Studio dwellings had been filled by Harlow residents from the housing register?
At that time, cllr Carter told the chamber that of the 172 units, 52 were allocated at “local housing allowance rates”.
His actual figure then was “numerous” had been filled.
This week, almost a year since the flats had become available for rent, we asked Harlow Council for an update on how many had been filled.
A Harlow Council spokesperson said: “Millbrook Studios is currently 70% let across the affordable and market rent units, with a further 18 of the affordable and 4 market rent homes currently under offer.
This will take the total to over 80%, which marks significant progress in under six months, against the target of 98% by June next year.”
With over 5,500 Harlow residents on the housing needs register in 2024 and a year on from the flats become available, around 35 of the 52 flats are now occupied.
That now leaves the question of how many of the 120 other flats have been rented out?
To be continued.
If you are interested………………
David Forman
2025-10-25 14:16:39
The Council may be doing a genealogy search to see when tenants' families migrated to Harlow. There is probably some disagreement amongst the officers and Cabinet. Some arguing it should be 1066 when the Saxon era ended and others that it should be 4 August 1949 when four prefabricated homes of the New Town had their keys handed over. See https://www.mun.ca/harlow/about-harlow/historical-geography-of-harlow/residential-developments/#:~:text=Frederick%20Gibberd%27s%20Master%20Plan%20for,kinfolk%20and%20friends%20and%20shops.
Seamus
2025-10-25 16:14:53
This building didn't pop up over night so it's not as though the council didn't know it was there. With nearly 4,000 ? on the council social housing list I find it very peculiar after nearly a year of opening that still not all of the council 52 flats are occuoied. They could have had those flats filled on the first day if the council chose too. So the first question to the council is, what are you not telling us about the council flats that were brand new and ready to go but a year later, some are still empty? Second question would be as is mentioned the article if money has been borrowed by the council to buy, as was claimed, then you would be desperate to have 100% tenancy/rental income. If you are at only 70% hoping to get to 80% income from the building, how does this lower income/occupancy rate sit with income expected versus repaying the debt of the building?
Nicholas Taylor
2025-10-25 18:16:42
Seamus is absolutley right, with thousands on the councils Housing Register you would think that the affordable flats would be occupied within a couple of weeks of being ready for occupation. So what is the sticking point? Well firstly there is the fact that the council took over 2000 applicants off it's Register some 18 months ago so there may not actually be enough wanting such a home. Secondly, the rent of over £1000 per month compared with a council flat elsewhere may put people off and thirdly, the type of tenancy being offered compared with a council flat elsewhere? A drive past just last evening left me still doubting that 70% are occupied.
Mike
2025-10-25 21:38:51
I have driven past that building at night on a number of occasions recently on my way to the station. I agree with Nicholas Taylor that it certainly does not look like anywhere near 70% of the flats are occupied. I don't think thAT Harlow Council are being totally truthfull about numbers here...
Kez
2025-10-26 13:24:47
I've been on the housing list for a while and have managed to successfully get a millbrook apartment. I got offered this apartment, in August, and I still haven't moved in. I haven't even seen it yet, and my tenancy is supposed to start on the, 4th of November. Getting hold of, pinnacle group, seems to be a bit of a task as email is their only form of contact. Before being offered this, I considered going private. But, you would need a annual income on £30,000 a year, and a guarantor, if on benefits. I believe, private agencies will find it difficult housing people in these apartments given the hoops you have to jump through.
Derek Clark
2025-10-27 22:38:17
Some people like to make assumptions and mislead others by fact less false story telling. Nobody other than the council knows how many units are rented, you need facts before you make statements, even then you don't know what the time scale is to populate the building. It looks to me that to fulfill it's financial deals the council has set requirements that are required to be able to rent there. Who knows I dont, at least I'm not misleading people.
Seamus
2025-10-28 12:55:04
If you're familiar with Essex Live then you'll know various parts of the country have their own version. In one of those called My London, they have an article today that mentions London Councils and Harlow. https://www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/trojan-horse-how-london-councils-32583402
Gary Abbots
2025-10-28 15:38:13
Derek are you new? only misinformed knee jerk reactions in here please
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