Figures show almost 20,000 households are waiting for a council property in Kent.

The highest number where people are in need of accommodation is Gravesham with 3,588 on the register, followed by Canterbury with 2,743, another 2,273 in Dover, 2,176 in Thanet and 1,582 in Shepway.

Maidstone has the lowest at 603.

However, officials say some areas have people are on the list who don't have a "need" for a council home but would like to apply or transfer to one.

Wale Adetoro, assistant director of housing at Gravesham Borough Council, described the situation as a "real challenge".

He said: "There is huge demand for council housing within the borough.

"Whilst the council works closely with the private sector to try and rehouse people supply is far outstripped by demand.

"We work closely with our clients and help them explore other alternatives to council housing which maybe available to them.

"We also work with housing association partners who may be able to offer shared ownership schemes to people who may be able to afford that type of tenure.

"Other than that we look at assisting people with rent deposit schemes to be able to rent in the private housing sector.

"There aren't many options out there which is why demand is as great as it is."

His comments come as recent figures show a rise in the number of homeless people in the county.

There were 200 people sleeping on the streets at the end of last year - 11 per cent up on the previous 12 months.

Hundreds more don't have a permanent roof over their head - with many sleeping on sofas or in bed and breakfasts.

Mr Adetoro added: "We give homeless people the adequate priority, looking at what their options are and their circumstances.

"We provide temporary accommodation depending on when we can help them secure permanent accommodation which isn't necessarily council housing."

Meantime, it's been announced the first council homes to be built in Dartford in decades, will be ready for people to move into in April.

Hill View in Temple Hill will have 25 homes available to rent for local people who want to move out of a council home that is too big or small for their needs.

With Dartford’s homelessness crisis making it the worst place in Kent for the proportion of its population living on the streets, councillors are hopeful the extra housing will help to tackle the problem.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Cllr Patrick Coleman (Con) said: "This is the first time we’ve been able to build some properties for ourselves on our own land and they are superb.

"Some people are thinking it’s a private development, but not at all, these are our council properties.

"We are doing our best to get homelessness down and this is one way that will help."

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "The truth is that the amount of people on council housing waiting lists has dropped by 36% since 2012, and we are investing in the largest affordable housing programme for 40 years.

"This Government has given councils powers to decide who should qualify for social housing, and make the best use of their social housing stock, so waiting lists can continue to fall."