Homeless refugees on the rise in London amid accommodation crisis

If the asylum claimants are sleeping rough on the streets, how do we track them ?

'Prevent refugees and asylum seekers from becoming homeless'

I'm sorry, but since when does someone who has come to the UK, often illegally, deserve preferential treatment when it comes to housing?Surely, the granting of asylum doesn't include the provision of housing.

The impact on housing of uncontrolled migration was always going to become a huge problem at some point. Finally, councils are sounding the alarm, because they don't have any spare accommodation, private landlords are leaving the sector in droves, and LHA is insufficient to cover private sector rents in any case. But it's a bit rich to demand the government sort it out, when the government is being prevented at every step from stopping the problem from happening in the first place.
The coming election will be about immigration, and it will be interesting to see how Labour will address the problem, because the normally generous and accommodating people of the UK have had enough.

'Prevent refugees and asylum seekers from becoming homeless'
Agree - where does it say granting asylum comes with accommodation as par of the deal?
It doesn't which is why the government is pulling the hotel plug and dumping them back to the local council where they are currently located.
All the council does is claim more money from government for emergency/temp accommodation IF they deem they owe a duty of care. Single males solicit no duty as far as I understand it so its shop doorways for them.
Those who are deemed to be owed a duty of care are then given hotel rooms as no other temp accommodation available.... same hotel, different 'status'. Bill the same.
But it doesnt stop there - Ive had personal experience with this...
I have offered a council a property for a refugee family. The house was visited by the council who wanted to take it on. Fully compliant, everyone had a bedroom etc and lots of space.. The family has local connection and wanted to move. I met the male head of the family at the property. He changed his mind. Said he is better off staying in 3 x hotel rooms instead as all bills are paid, kids are picked up by taxi to take to school and he woudnt have to pay top ups to the rent!! (the diff between the LHA and LOWER than market rent - even though this was totally affordable). He has heard that they do not have to take what the council offer at all. They still can refuse.
The council - they confirmed they can do nothing if an offer is refused. I stated that if the family had not been in the country more than 2 years they ad no basis on whcih to refuse if there was access to everything they needed and house compliant. I even sent the council the exact LA guidelines and pointed them to the government own rules about public money use.
I suspect that the council back down for fear of a formal challenge by their clients if they say they have to move. Clients funded by legal aid too.
Its only one family after all - too much time an effort - why bother?
Its political. These are labour councils that are quite happy for tenants to sit and stew in hotels while lists get longer. Just grenades to thow back stating Tories have made this mess....why woudl Labout want to be seen to help clear a mess they see made by the Tories? They'd rather sit back and do nothing.

Housing should be prioritised for those who have paid National Insurance. The more you’ve paid, the greater your priority. Non-working single parents could use their children’s other parents NI contributions.

What an absolute mess this country, our country ?, is in.
I can't see an end to the housing shortage problem.
Tens of Millions of pounds being spent every day to provide temporary accommodation. Would this not be better spent on building more social housing ?

see Chapter 13.2 Note the words ELIGIBLE for relief duty only - that means support to help secure accommodation not actually provide it themselves. (pretty bloody meaningless when the councils dont have anything anyway)

ONLY IF a relief duty is box ticked AND the person has PRIORITY need (separeate set of criteria) will the council then have a responsibility to accommodate them.

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Homeless Guide for LA's...

Chapter 13: Relief duty
Guidance on duties owed to applicants who are homeless, to try and relieve their homelessness.

13.1 Section 189B of the 1996 Act – the ‘relief duty’ – requires housing authorities to help people who are homeless to secure accommodation. This chapter of the code provides guidance on how to fulfil the relief duty.

13.2 The duty applies when the housing authority is satisfied that the applicant is both homeless and eligible for assistance. The housing authority is obliged to take reasonable steps to help the applicant secure suitable accommodation with a reasonable prospect that it will be available for their occupation for at least 6 months.

13.3 Where the housing authority have reason to believe that an applicant may be homeless, eligible and have a priority need they must provide interim accommodation under section 188(1) whilst fulfilling the relief duty. For further guidance on interim duties to accommodate see Chapter 15.....

Reply to the comment left by Mike T at 07/12/2023 - 15:17
agree but no one can agree where it needs to be built, who pays to build it, who manages it.

Council can't afford to build anything, yet they want private companies to do so and then cap the rent so the benefit tenants can afford it. LOL!

No wonder nothing is happening!

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 07/12/2023 - 11:38
Interesting to read your personal experience of offering accommodation to a refugee family. Seems it is too much to hope that Central and Local government might work together for the good of all concerned when politics plays a major role in decisions and there is an opportunity for left to be leveraged against right and vice versa..

Reply to the comment left by Old Mrs Landlord at 07/12/2023 - 16:55
I have come to the decision that while they have to be seen to be doing something, the reality is nothing happens and noone gives as stuff either.

Have written to Johnny Mercer MP as and got the standard thank you for explaining your situation, we are grateful you have engaged with us. As you can see we are putting in £XXXXX M or whatever to enable use to....

waffle waffle waffle. Councils are using this as a political tool. Its stalemate. Be interesting to see if Labour get in the same Labour councils then act....if only toget the stats down to 'prove' they are working where the Tories were not....

Either way I'm done with working with Councils.

Reply to the comment left by Mike T at 07/12/2023 - 15:17
I agree with your thinking…