News

The number of long-term empty homes has increased nationally by nearly 10 per cent over the past five years, the equivalent of just over one per cent of the country’s housing stock, a new report commissioned by the Local Government Association reveals today. 

“This Bill will help to achieve better standards in the private rented sector through increasing the rights of tenants and enabling them to better hold landlords to account."

Increasing numbers of families are turning to councils for temporary accommodation as homelessness reaches record highs, the Local Government Association warns.  Analysis from the LGA, which represent councils across England, reveals that the number of households living in temporary accommodation has risen by 89 per cent over the past decade to 104,000 households at the end of March 2023 – the highest figures since records began in 1998 – costing councils at least £1.74 billion in 2022/23.  The severe shortage of social housing means councils are being forced to pay to house people in private

Councils are working hard to deliver good outcomes for tenants and are committed to improving housing conditions for all residents.

“Councils want to turn the tide of rising homelessness and ensure no one has to sleep rough on our streets, an ambition which Lord Kerslake admirably strived for."

​​​​​​​Taxpayers will continue to subsidise planning services by almost £5 million a week until the Government finalises measures to increase fees to cover the cost of processing applications, councils warn today.

Councils could face an extra bill of £18 million to deal with new government housing standards, as revealed by research undertaken by the LGA. 

Hotels have already begun to close to Afghan households across the country and - as we feared - councils are already seeing families presenting to them as homeless as a result.

Further expanding permitted development rights risks creating poor quality residential environments that negatively impact people’s health and wellbeing.

“Councils are committed to working with government and developers to build the housing the country needs, with land for more than 2.6 million homes allocated in Local Plans and nine in 10 planning applications being approved."