Issue

Temporary accommodation

119 stories · discussed at 68 council meetings · 32 councils

Councils are addressing budget pressures from temporary accommodation costs, implementing new strategies, and increasing housing supply.

Ealing Council's Cabinet approved a new policy in October 2026 to standardise temporary accommodation placements, while Wandsworth Council plans to implement 10-year leases for temporary homes to cut costs. Several councils are reporting significant budget overspends, with Wandsworth projecting a £5.3 million overspend and Sutton facing a £36.5 million budget gap over three years, partly due to housing pressures.

Brent Council anticipates spending £38 million on nightly paid temporary accommodation, forecasting a £9.5 million overspend in the first quarter of 2026/27. Havering Council's new Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy aims for £11-12 million annual savings by reducing reliance on temporary accommodation. Croydon Council is planning 1,000 new homes to tackle homelessness and reduce temporary accommodation use, submitting a bid to the GLA in September 2026.

Waltham Forest Council's Planning Committee granted permission in September 2026 for a property to be converted into temporary accommodation for 14 households. Lewisham Council's Mayor and Cabinet approved spending £135 million on temporary accommodation over the next three years in September 2026. Wandsworth Council's Cabinet will discuss this topic on October 12, 2026, and Westminster's General Purposes Committee on October 14, 2026.

Key facts

  1. Ealing Council's Cabinet approved a new policy for homeless household placements on October 7, 2026. Source
  2. Wandsworth Council is forecasting a £5.3 million overspend for the current financial year. Source
  3. Sutton Council faces a £36.5 million budget gap over the next three years. Source
  4. Wandsworth Council is set to implement 10-year leasing agreements for temporary accommodation. Source
  5. Brent Council anticipates spending £38 million on nightly paid temporary accommodation. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 9 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 7

  1. Westminster faces £161m budget gap by 2030 Westminster City Council faces a projected budget deficit of £161 million by 2030, a stark increase from previous forecasts, due to significant reductions in government funding... Westminster 17 July 2026
  2. Westminster City Council Reports £8.2m Overspend on Temporary Accommodation Westminster City Council has reported an £8.2 million overspend for the 2025/26 financial year, a figure primarily driven by escalating costs in temporary accommodation and... Westminster 17 July 2026
  3. Islington Council Invests £236m in Housing Amidst Supply Shortages Islington Council has invested £236 million in improving its housing stock, focusing on decent homes, fire safety, and damp and mould remediation. Despite this significant... Islington 16 July 2026
  4. K&C Council Faces £32.8m Budget Gap by 2027/28 Due to Funding Reforms and Service Pressures Kensington and Chelsea Council faces a projected budget gap of £32.8 million by the financial year 2027/28, with cumulative deficits expected to reach £127.2 million over the... Kensington and Chelsea 10 July 2026
  5. New Homes Scrutiny Committee to oversee housing in Brent Brent Council has established a new Homes Scrutiny Committee to provide dedicated oversight of the borough's housing functions, a move prompted by serious failings identified by... Brent 7 July 2026
  6. Council abandons SPV plan for temporary homes Kingston Council has abandoned plans to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for temporary accommodation, opting instead to hold 150 properties within the General Fund.... Kingston upon Thames 27 June 2026
  7. Brent Council to Explore New Housing Scrutiny Committee Brent Council is set to explore the establishment of a new scrutiny committee dedicated to housing, following a unanimous decision at the Annual Council Meeting on Wednesday,... Brent 22 May 2026
  8. Brent Council Approves Long-Term Property Leases to Increase Homeless Accommodation Brent Council has approved a new strategy to increase the supply of temporary accommodation for homeless households by entering into long-term leasing agreements with private... Brent 9 April 2026