The number of households in temporary accommodation in Kensington and Chelsea has risen sharply, mirroring a national trend, according to a report discussed at the Joint Health & Wellbeing Board meeting on Thursday 25 September 2025. The report, titled Ambition 4 Review: We Have A Good Quality Home Public reports pack, highlights a 35% increase in temporary accommodation usage since the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) 2017.
The rise is attributed to a greater use of temporary accommodation for single people following the expanded prevention and relief duties included in HRA 2017. The number of single people in temporary accommodation rose from 18,040 in Quarter 3, 2018-19 to 33,530 in Quarter 3, 2023-24, an increase of 86%.
The report presented to the board, which included Cllr Josh Rendall (Lead Member for Adult Social Care & Public Health) and Cllr Patricia McAllister (Chair), detailed the challenges faced by both Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster in addressing homelessness and rough sleeping.
Nationally, the total number of households in temporary accommodation rose from 83,540 in Quarter 3, 2018-19 to 112,660 in Quarter 3, 2023-24. Single people are disproportionately affected, with an 86% increase in temporary accommodation usage, rising from 18,040 to 33,530 during the same period.
In Kensington and Chelsea, 2,140 households were living in temporary accommodation as of Quarter 4, 2024/25, including 1,154 households with children. The report also notes that homelessness disproportionately affects residents of Global Majority communities, with 73% of residents in Kensington and Chelsea who are owed a prevention or relief duty coming from these communities. Westminster has a similar proportion, with 76% of residents owed a prevention or relief duty coming from Global Majority communities.
Westminster faces even greater challenges, with 1001 people recorded as rough sleeping, compared to 81 in Kensington and Chelsea. The report also highlights that Westminster has 3,996 households living in temporary accommodation.
The report outlines various prevention and early intervention initiatives in both boroughs, including:
- Preventing Homelessness Outreach Team
- Housing and Employment Team
- Accommodation Solutions service
- Targeted domestic violence support
- Rough Sleeping Support Service
- Transitional Housing Approach (THA) support and move on service
- Floating Support Service
- Mental Health supported accommodation pathway.
The Accommodation Solutions service also supports those who have been living in temporary accommodation (TA) for more than 8 years to reconnect to services and move into stable accommodation. According to the report, 106 households have moved into settled housing either through the council's housing allocations, bridge housing or private rented sector.
The report also refers to the work of the Doctor Hickey Surgery in Victoria, which provides specialist care for rough sleepers and hostel residents.
Westminster City Council's vision is to tackle homelessness across Westminster in partnership with public, voluntary and community services through a preventative and collaborative approach to help build a Fairer Westminster.
