Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted
HAST actively supports local authorities to reduce B&B reliance through ongoing reviews and advice.
Conclusion
We asked MHCLG how successfully HAST was supporting local authorities to move away from B&B use. It told us that advisers are based in MHCLG offices all around the country, but they generally spend their time working alongside local authorities. HAST reviews information on B&B use quarterly and carries out in-depth visits to local authorities if there are particular 16 Qq 19-20; C&AG’s Report, paras 1.8, 3.18 17 Qq 1, 18, 85 18 Qq 19, 21 19 Q 19 12 issues of concern, which may involve putting together a cross-disciplinary team. Common themes with which HAST helps local authority staff include procuring temporary accommodation and escalating issues to senior management.20 Placing households in temporary accommodation outside their home area
Government Response Summary
The government states it agrees with the recommendation (despite the item being a conclusion) and has launched the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots in January 2025, backed by £8 million, to work with local authorities to reduce the use of B&Bs for homeless families.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 In January 2025, MHCLG launched the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots, which was backed by £5 million to work with 20 local authorities with the highest use of bed & breakfast (B&B) accommodation for homeless families, to test innovative approaches and kickstart new initiatives to reduce the use of B&Bs. Areas were selected using the latest quarterly homelessness data from June 2024. 2.3 In February 2025, MHCLG announced a further £3 million funding for 2024-25 to the pilot areas, to undertake occupancy audits of temporary accommodation, to help establish a baseline for the pilots and to identify any voids, fraud or irregular arrangements, which could free up better quality temporary accommodation units for use by households currently living in B&Bs and other forms of emergency accommodation. This takes the total funding for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots to £8 million. 2.4 Alongside the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots, the department’s Homelessness Advice and Support Team (HAST) advisers continue to work with all local authorities, particularly focusing on local authorities that have high homelessness demand and high rates of temporary accommodation.