0:03 AM, 25th August 2023, About 11 months ago 55
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Councils across England are struggling with a surge in demand from households facing homelessness with nearly a quarter of a million households looking for a home, one organisation reveals.
The findings from Crisis are part of its annual ‘state of the nation’ survey and it found that the equivalent of 1 in 100 households are grappling with homelessness.
The trend is pushing thousands into temporary living arrangements like B&Bs and hostels, as local authorities struggle to secure long-term housing solutions.
The research was carried out by Heriot-Watt University which found that the factors driving homelessness levels up include rising living costs and rents.
Matt Downie, the chief executive at Crisis, said “The homelessness system is at breaking point. Temporary accommodation should be a short-term emergency measure yet, as the report shows, it is increasingly becoming the default solution for many councils.
“This is leaving thousands of people living out their lives in a permanent state of limbo, enduring cramped, unsuitable conditions – with a fifth of households in temporary accommodation stuck there for over five years.”
He added: “It comes as no surprise that councils are reporting that they are running out of temporary accommodation.”
The survey found that 85% of councils in England are witnessing a surge in homelessness cases, marking the highest proportion since the survey began.
The combination of a housing benefit freeze, a dwindling supply of social housing and a scarcity of affordable private accommodation is creating a challenge for local authorities.
Research shows that 88% of councils are dealing with more requests for help from tenants being evicted from the private rented sector (PRS).
And 93% of councils are predicting further increases in the coming year.
Mr Downie said: “For too long the emphasis has been on managing homelessness, not building the social homes we need to provide security to low-income households.
“The alarm bells are ringing loud and clear.
“The Westminster government must address the chronic lack of social housing and increase housing benefit, so it covers the true cost of rents.
“We cannot allow this situation to escalate further and consign more lives to the misery of homelessness.”
The report also reveals that rising rents in the PRS and growing competition for a dwindling supply of homes to rent is leading 97% of councils struggling to source suitable private rentals over the past year.
As access to social housing also dwindles, councils are increasingly turning to the PRS to house low-income households, but the challenges are becoming insurmountable.
And as councils exhaust their options for sustainable long-term housing solutions, they are resorting to temporary accommodations at an unprecedented rate.
Crisis says that the number of households living in such arrangements has reached a record high.
However, it appears that this approach is nearing a breaking point, with councils expressing concerns about their diminishing capacity to secure more temporary accommodation.
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northern landlord
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Sign Up19:12 PM, 28th August 2023, About 11 months ago
To paraphrase an old joke about problems in Russia. There are three solutions to the housing problem. The first is unlikely the second is extremely unlikely and the third is utterly unbelievable. Solution 1: it will sort itself out naturally. Solution 2: the aliens will come down to earth and sort it out. Solution 3: the Government will sort it out. Personally I am waiting for the aliens!
Teessider
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Sign Up14:24 PM, 22nd September 2023, About 10 months ago
If being a landlord was more attractive then there would be more landlords buying property to let out.
This would keep prices high and house builders interested. They won’t be built if there’s no demand. There’ll be no demand if there’s no money.
Mick Roberts
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Sign Up14:27 PM, 22nd September 2023, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Teessider at 22/09/2023 - 14:24
That's what I say when someone says
We've paid your mortgage Mick
Or u making a good rack aren't u
I'll say
U welcome to buy it, I don't want the house any more. U can have the hassle if u want, I'll give u 10% discount & u can house your sister.
Oh Oh Oh well, Uh, Uh, I han't got the money.
Well stop moaning then, u quite welcome to all this profit & easy life, can't be that easy if I'm offering it u now & u don't or can't do it.
GlanACC
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Sign Up20:46 PM, 22nd September 2023, About 10 months ago
Just got back from Tokyo, saw 2 genuinely homeless people. Government solution was to provide them with a stack of cardboard to sleep on and a tarpauline. In Japan you need to look after yourself, its built into their culture. You do get state help but you are not treated as we treat the homeless over here where we basically don't encourage people to fend for themselves.
GlanACC
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Sign Up12:01 PM, 24th September 2023, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by JB at 25/08/2023 - 16:29
We should not be removing the minimum room size requirements. How would you like to live in a box ? , my tenants deserve more than that - otherwise I could convert some 3 beds into 4 beds and charge more. I wouldn't live in it
JB
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Sign Up12:52 PM, 24th September 2023, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 24/09/2023 - 12:01Some people want a cheap room above all else. There may be a large living room and kitchen. Others may have a huge main residence and only want to sleep in it during the week. If all rooms are used it makes it cheaper for tje other tenants. No one has to rent a small room if they dont want to. Why should the nanny state decide?
NewYorkie
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Sign Up13:21 PM, 24th September 2023, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by JB at 24/09/2023 - 12:52
Not a problem for the new build ownership sector, where you will struggle to fit a double bed in a double bedroom. The developer blurb never explains where you will put your clothes.
john thompson
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Sign Up14:31 PM, 24th September 2023, About 10 months ago
I lived in a dirt cheap pokey little bedsit for about a year as a youngster because I was on a small wage and refused to spend more for a bigger room.
I preferred to spend more on going out. My life, my choice.
As government chips away more choice in the name of your safety or welfare, they restrict freedoms, lifestyle choice and dictate just about everything you can and can't do.
Support government interference you support a dictatorship.
NewYorkie
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Sign Up18:09 PM, 24th September 2023, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by john thompson at 24/09/2023 - 14:31
We rented a one-bed flat in a small Victorian terrace in East London. We had 2 young kids and I was the only one working. It was freezing and damp in Winter, but we were glad to have it, in a convenient location, at a rent we could afford. The council would deem it unfit to let today. No benefits offered and none expected. 12 years later we had built our own home in Cambridge. Hard work, risks, sacrifices, discomfort for a few years. Nobody complained!
Bristol Landlord
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Sign Up18:40 PM, 24th September 2023, About 10 months ago
Regarding the 6.51SM HMO minimum room size for one tenant, according to the below website there is a double standard being committed by the UK Government as His Majesty’s Prison Service often puts two prisoners into a 6.50SM cell originally planned for just one prisoner. And the European Commission deems 6.00SM as a minimum prison cell size for one prisoner.
So I can’t really see why the HMO minimum room size for one tenant can’t be 6.00SM.
A room size really should be a tenants choice as the real criteria ought to be if the room is safe, has heating and ventilation and can be quickly evacuated in case of a house fire.
https://prisonguide.co.uk/prison-cell/