Islington's Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee has concluded that homelessness in the borough is a system-made crisis
and has urged for significant reforms at both local and national levels. A year-long review by the committee found that while Islington performs well in preventing homelessness and reducing the time people spend in temporary accommodation compared to other London boroughs, the national housing emergency, marked by soaring private rents and a lack of affordable homes, is a major contributing factor.
The committee's final report, presented on March 17, 2026, outlines 21 recommendations for national reform. Beyond abolishing the priority need system and ending local connection requirements for rough sleepers, the proposed changes include a whole-system statutory duty for all public services – including health, criminal justice, and adult social care – to actively prevent homelessness. It also advocates for a place-based model that integrates housing, health, and social care services, and calls for government funding to purchase 200 ex-Right to Buy homes annually, treating council housebuilding as national infrastructure investment. The report stresses the need for the government to uprate Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates to reflect real market rents and to introduce rent stabilisation in high-cost areas like London.
Data presented to the committee showed that while Islington faces high demand, with the second-highest number of homelessness assessments in London, it maintains a comparatively low rate of households in temporary accommodation. The average stay in temporary accommodation locally is around 10-11 months, significantly shorter than in many other boroughs.
However, the report highlights that 66 households have been in temporary accommodation for five years or more. This is often due to complex needs such as severe autism within the family, leading to fear of high-rise accommodation, physical disabilities, or larger family sizes, where suitable accommodation is difficult to find. The report implies that the difficulty in finding suitable accommodation that meets these complex needs is the primary barrier to them moving out of temporary accommodation.
The committee also reviewed the Quarter 3 Housing Performance Report, which indicated strengths in repairs, safety, tenancy satisfaction, and temporary accommodation management. However, pressures remain in rough sleeping, complaints, and rent arrears. Despite these challenges, Islington's performance in areas like Decent Homes Standard, repairs, and building safety is noted as being in the upper quartiles for London.
The proposed national reforms also include strengthening early intervention and face-to-face advice services, recognising legal advice as a core prevention tool, and shifting towards rapid rehousing. The report advocates for the continuation and expansion of the Housing First approach, which has shown high tenancy sustainment rates. Furthermore, it calls for a multi-agency approach to issues like cuckooing and exploring cross-borough rehousing for at-risk residents. Specific attention is also drawn to women's homelessness, with recommendations for gender-specific, trauma-informed accommodation and support, including the potential for a dedicated women's supported accommodation building. The report also addresses the needs of migrants and refugees at risk of homelessness, recommending a review of 'No Recourse to Public Funds' conditions. Investment in integrated health, care, and housing support, alongside stable, long-term funding, is deemed crucial. The report also suggests embedding the voices of people with lived experience of homelessness in service redesign and policy change, and seeking long-term investment for specialist homelessness roles and staff wellbeing.
Finally, the committee advocates for homelessness and supported accommodation services to fall under the responsibility of the Regulator of Social Housing to ensure consistent standards and accountability. It also suggests considering reforms similar to the Scottish Government's approach to domestic abuse, specifically regarding the eviction of perpetrators rather than victims. The report welcomes the government's National Plan to End Homelessness but urges it to go further with statutory responsibilities, shared outcomes, and long-term funding.
Read the full report here: Final Report - Homelessness in Islington
