A cross-party group of MPs has called for urgent government action to address poor conditions in temporary accommodation, warning that too many families are living in homes “unfit for human habitation”.
A report from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee highlights rising numbers of households in temporary accommodation, including tens of thousands of children, with some facing damp, overcrowding and unsafe living conditions.
The committee is urging ministers to strengthen protections, phase out unsuitable forms of accommodation and develop long-term plans to increase the supply of safe, decent temporary housing.
The LGA said councils are committed to providing suitable homes, but face mounting financial and demand pressures.
Cllr Carl Cashman, Vice-Chair of the LGA’s Inclusive Growth Committee, said: “Everyone deserves a safe, warm and good-quality home… However, increasing numbers of people are seeking support from their local authority while budgets decrease.”
He warned that a growing funding gap – already £1.5 billion – between what councils spend on temporary accommodation and what they are reimbursed by government is worsening the crisis.
The LGA is calling for reforms to the local housing allowance rate, alongside wider action to tackle the housing shortage driving demand for temporary accommodation.