Merton Council has approved the purchase of 125 homes to increase the availability of affordable housing for residents at risk of homelessness.
The decision, made by the council's Cabinet on Monday 13 July 2026, aims to reduce reliance on costly nightly-paid temporary accommodation.
The acquisition strategy involves a combination of freehold purchases and long-term leasing arrangements. The council has secured funding through Round 4 of the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF4), totalling £15,081,000 for the acquisition of 62 homes over four years. An additional £20,088,000 of council capital has been allocated to support these purchases.
Authority has been delegated to the Executive Director of Housing & Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Executive Director for Finance and Digital and relevant Cabinet Members, to acquire properties that represent the best value for the council. To ensure this, an independent Market Value valuation will be carried out for each proposed acquisition to demonstrate that the purchase price is at or below the market rate.
The strategy also includes securing long-term leased accommodation from institutional and pension-fund backed providers to improve value for money and provide more stable housing options for residents at risk of homelessness.
Further details of the council's decisions can be found in the Decisions Monday 13-Jul-2026 19.15 Cabinet document.
