Bexley Council has seen a significant reduction in temporary housing costs, thanks to a focus on homelessness prevention and efficient allocation of social housing. The council plans to further reduce temporary accommodation dependency through continued prevention work.
At the Places Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday 7 October 2025, councillors reviewed a report titled Housing services – trends in temporary accommodation [http://democracy.bexley.gov.uk/documents/s120020/Housing%20report.pdf], which highlighted the council's success in reducing its reliance on temporary accommodation.
The report detailed that the council's Emergency Accommodation portfolio totals 541 units, a significant reduction achieved through successful contract procurement and management, and the ongoing transformation work of the housing teams. This has led to substantial cost savings.
Temporary Accommodation Expenditure, Income and Net Cost
| Year | Expenditure | Income | Net Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/21 | £22,606,684 | -£12,107,509 | £10,499,175 |
| 21/22 | £16,677,584 | -£10,873,055 | £5,804,529 |
| 22/23 | £12,938,021 | -£7,378,454 | £5,559,567 |
| 23/24 | £8,738,794 | -£5,973,686 | £2,765,108 |
| 24/25 | £7,391,801 | -£4,982,742 | £2,409,059 |
Housing Budget vs Spend
| Year | Budget | Spend | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/21 | £12,282,000 | £14,545,061 | £2,417,061 |
| 21/22 | £15,476,500 | £14,164,879 | -£1,311,621 |
| 22/23 | £15,214,000 | £12,229,769 | -£2,984,231 |
| 23/24 | £11,704,000 | £10,980,458 | -£723,542 |
| 24/25 | £11,953,000 | £10,383,916 | -£1,569,084 |
The report also highlighted the impact of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, which mandates earlier interventions to prevent and relieve homelessness. By prioritising lettings for those at highest risk, such as families facing homelessness, individuals with safeguarding needs, or those in unsuitable housing, the housing department has been able to transition people into secure, long-term homes more efficiently.
Social Lets via Housing Register to Homeless Households
| Year | % of Social Lets to Main Duty Households | % of Social Lets to Prevention/Relief Duty Households | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23/24 | 40.91% | 11.04% | 51.95% |
| 24/25 | 46.48% | 9.51% | 55.99% |
The impact of this renewed focus is demonstrated by the reduction in households in temporary accommodation, falling from 944 at the start of 2022/2023 to 325 at the end of August 2025.
