Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted in Part
Out-of-area homeless placements significantly increasing, causing disruption for households, particularly children.
Conclusion
For a variety of reasons, including lack of housing supply and suitability of accommodation, some local authorities struggle to place households within their local area. MHCLG acknowledges that placing households out of area can cause disruption, especially to children, including challenges for their education and social isolation affecting their health and support needs. The number of households placed out of area rose from 23,450 in Quarter 3, 2018–19 to 33,350 in Quarter 3, 2023–24, an increase of 42%. Of the households placed out of area in Quarter 3, 2023–24, around 26,380 (79%) had been placed there by a London local authority.21 MHCLG told us that, as at June 2024, the number of households placed out of area across the whole country had risen again, to 39,000.22
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and will explore publishing additional data on temporary accommodation and out-of-area placements by April 2025. MHCLG will also continue to engage with local government on this issue, noting existing legislation already requires local placements where possible.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2025 3.2 MHCLG is exploring what additional data related to temporary accommodation can be published on a regular basis from its existing collection, potentially quantifying the number of out of area placements received. Improved availability of data will assist local authorities to collaborate and coordinate on the location of placements. 3.3 The homelessness legislation already requires local authorities to place homeless households in their area wherever possible. Where this is not possible, the legislation requires local authorities to place the household as near as possible to the original local authority. The government considers this a strong incentive to use local provision, however MHCLG will continue to explore this important issue in its engagement with local government.