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England

Record 145,800 children in temporary accommodation – up 15% in a year

Posted 30 Apr 2024

New government statutory homelessness figures released today show 145,800 children are homeless and living in temporary accommodation with their families – the highest on record and up 19,460 (15%) in a year. 

The figures for England also show:  

  • 112,660 households were homeless and living in temporary accommodation at the end of 2023 – another record high figure and up 12% in a year.   

  • 317,430 households were accepted as either homeless or at imminent risk of it by their council, last year – the highest number since records began, and up 9% on the previous year. 

  • The loss of a private tenancy remains the leading cause of homelessness in England.  

  • A record 25,910 households were threatened with homelessness as a result of a Section 21 no fault eviction in 2023. Section 21 evictions are a major contributor to rising homelessness because they allow landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason, and only two months’ notice.   

With a General Election on the horizon, Shelter is urging all political parties to commit to building 90,000 genuinely affordable social homes a year with rents tied to local incomes as the lasting and ultimate solution to homelessness. In addition, it’s calling for the current Renters (Reform) Bill to be fixed so that it delivers meaningful safety and security for private renters. The government first promised to scrap no fault evictions in its 2019 manifesto, however since its introduction to Parliament, the Renters (Reform) Bill has been watered down significantly.  

Last week, MPs voted to accept amendments that could indefinitely delay banning Section 21s and reintroduce some fixed term tenancies, prompting Shelter and other renting organisations to say they could no longer support the Bill and call for serious changes to the draft legislation.   

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “The government cannot stand idly by while a generation of children have their lives blighted by homelessness.  

“Decades of failure to build enough genuinely affordable social homes has left families struggling to cobble together extortionate sums every month to keep a roof over their heads. Those who can’t afford private rents are being thrown into homelessness and then left for months and even years in damaging temporary accommodation because there is nowhere else. 

“With a General Election approaching, it’s time for all politicians to show voters they are serious about ending the housing emergency. To dramatically reduce homelessness, we need every party to commit to building 90,000 social homes a year for ten years, and an overhaul of the Renters (Reform) Bill so that it delivers genuine safety and security for private renters.” 

Anyone who is facing homelessness can get free and expert advice from Shelter by visiting www.shelter.org.uk/get_help.   

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Statutory homelessness in England 

  • There were 145, 800 children in temporary accommodation at the end of December 2023. This compares to 126,340 at the end of December 2022. This is the highest since records began in 2004. Tables on homelessness - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), Table TA1.  

  • The number of households facing homeless in 2023 – 317,430 is the highest annual total since records began in 2018. It is 9% higher than in 2022 (292,390). This was calculated by combining the households found to be owed a prevention or relief duty.  Tables on homelessness - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  Table A1.  

  • 112,660 households were in temporary accommodation at the end of December 2023. This compares to 100,510 in 2022. Tables on homelessness - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Table TA1.,. The number of households who are homeless in temporary accommodation in England is the highest it has ever been. Quarterly recording of this figure began in 1998. Historical data shows that numbers were much lower in the period from the inception of modern homelessness legislation to the start of quarterly reporting of this data. See https://www.ukhousingreview.org.uk/ukhr22/tables-figures/pdf/22-090.pdf 

  • The leading cause of homelessness is the loss of a private rented tenancy. This is calculated by looking at the reason given for the loss of their last settled home by households who were found to be owed a prevention or relief duty in the last three months. 21,200 households lost their last settled home due to the ending of a private tenancy (the ending of an AST and the ending of a private tenancy non-AST). This was more than the next most common reason (family and friends no longer willing or able to accommodate 20,190). Tables on homelessness - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), Table A2P and A2R.  

  • The number of households threatened with homelessness due to the ending of an AST in 2023, 25,910, was calculated from the number of households assessed to be owed a duty due to service of a valid Section 21 notice. Tables on homelessness - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), Table A1.   

About Shelter: Shelter exists to defend the right to a safe home and fight the devastating impact the housing emergency has on people and society. Shelter believes that home is everything. Learn more at www.shelter.org.uk.