Issue

Temporary Accommodation

115 stories · discussed at 64 council meetings · 32 councils

Councils are grappling with significant financial pressures from temporary accommodation while developing strategies to increase supply and reduce reliance.

Several councils are reporting significant financial pressures from temporary accommodation. Brent Council anticipates £38 million expenditure on nightly paid accommodation, forecasting a £9.5 million overspend in the first quarter of 2026-27. Hammersmith and Fulham Council faces a projected £14.3 million overspend for 2026/27, partly due to temporary accommodation, while Redbridge Council forecasts an £8.485 million overspend with pressures in this area. Lewisham Council plans to spend £135 million over three years.

In response, councils are developing strategies to reduce reliance and increase supply. Havering Council's 2026-2029 strategy aims for £11-12 million annual savings by reducing expensive temporary accommodation. Croydon Council plans 1,000 new homes to tackle homelessness and reduce temporary accommodation reliance, submitting a bid to the GLA in September 2026. Waltham Forest Council granted permission in September 2026 for 14 new temporary accommodation units.

Hackney Council's Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation Supply Transformation Programme, with £145 million allocated for 2026/27, faces challenges, including a 29% decrease in homelessness prevention outcomes since 2025/26. Temporary accommodation is housing provided for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, typically on a short-term basis. Waltham Forest Council's Shareholder Committee is scheduled to discuss the topic on 6 October 2026.

Key facts

  1. Brent Council anticipates £38 million expenditure on nightly paid temporary accommodation, forecasting a £9.5 million overspend in Q1 2026-27. Source
  2. Hammersmith and Fulham Council faces a projected £14.3 million overspend for 2026/27, attributed partly to temporary accommodation. Source
  3. Lewisham Council is set to spend £135 million on temporary accommodation over the next three years. Source
  4. Havering Council's new strategy aims for £11-12 million annual savings by reducing reliance on temporary accommodation. Source
  5. Croydon Council plans to build 1,000 new homes to reduce reliance on 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 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 3

  1. Hackney Council Explores Housing Company to Subsidize Rents and Mitigate Housing Benefit Loss Hackney Council is exploring the establishment of a housing company as a potential avenue to subsidise rents and mitigate housing benefit subsidy losses, with projected savings... Hackney 10 September 2026
  2. Hackney Council's Homelessness Transformation Programme Faces Challenges in Demand Management and Supply Hackney Council's Homelessness Transformation Programme is facing significant challenges in managing demand and increasing the supply of temporary accommodation, according to a... Hackney 10 September 2026
  3. Hackney tackles homelessness: £145m plan to boost housing Hackney Council is set to invest £145 million in a comprehensive plan to tackle homelessness and improve the supply of temporary accommodation. The initiative, part of the... Hackney 10 September 2026
  4. Renters' Rights Act hits Hackney: prevention success drops 29% Hackney Council has experienced a significant drop in its success rate for preventing homelessness, with a 29% decrease in successful prevention and relief outcomes reported in... Hackney 10 September 2026
  5. Havering Council questioned on government funding for rough sleeping accommodation Havering Council has been questioned on its strategy for securing adequate government funding to provide temporary accommodation and end rough sleeping. Havering 8 September 2026
  6. Islington Council Recovers £5.9 Million in Prevented Tenancy Fraud Losses Islington Council has recovered over £5.9 million in prevented fraud loss through its Housing Investigations Team (HIT) in the 2025-2026 financial year, the Homes and... Islington 2 September 2026
  7. Sutton Council to launch new social housing provider Sutton Council is set to establish a new not-for-profit social housing provider as part of its strategy to increase the supply of affordable homes in the borough. Sutton 15 August 2026
  8. Brent Council to explore housing's impact on health outcomes Brent Council's Health and Wellbeing Board is set to explore the profound impact of housing on the health outcomes of its residents. This commitment follows discussions at a... Brent 4 August 2026