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1,600 homeless families are stuck in hotels and B&Bs beyond the legal time limits


Te number of homeless families being housed by English councils in hotels and B&Bs for longer than the legal limit of six weeks is at its highest level in 20 years. Te latest Government figures show that


1,630 families were being housed in hotels and B&Bs by councils in England for longer than the six-weeks statutory maximum, between October and December last year. Tis is the highest reported figure since


2003. It also marks the highest quarterly increase ever recorded, jumping 35% since data was reported for the July to September period of last year. Many of these families have been evicted


from private rentals. While living in temporary accommodation they generally have no access to cooking and clothes washing facilities and have to pay for laundry, storage services and takeaway food. Te problem is particularly serious in


London, where data from London councils shows there was an 180% increase in families being housed in hotels and B&Bs for more than six weeks from 2021 to 2022. In Enfield there are 200 families being


housed in hotels by the council. Enfield council says that at least 6,000 homes in the borough are being used by other councils and government departments, including the Home Office. An Enfield council spokesperson said:


“In February this year alone, 464 homeless families approached the council for help, compared to 196 in October 2021. Enfield residents are bearing the brunt of a national housing crisis.” A Department for Levelling Up, Housing


and Communities spokesperson said: “Over 600,000 households have been prevented from becoming homeless or supported into settled accommodation since 201,8 but we know there is more to be done to help families at risk of losing their homes. “We are giving councils £1bn through the


homelessness prevention grant over three years. Tis is on top of £26bn cost-of-living support this year. Local authorities have a duty to ensure no family is without a roof over their head, and temporary accommodation plays an important role in this.”


T


he Government must commit to investing £10 billion over the next five years to help ensure one million of England’s most


deprived homes become energy efficient, according to a group of local authorities. Analysis by SIGOMA reveals that 12.6 million


properties in England have an EPC Rating of D or below, with higher concentrations of these properties located in typically more deprived areas. Around 56% of all dwellings in England have


an EPC rating of D or below. Across Yorkshire and Humber the figure stands at 63%, with the West Midlands at 61% and the North West at 59%. Further south, the figures drop considerably


due to better insulation as part of the original construction, or subsequent improvements. In London the percentage of dwellings with EPC Band ‘D’ or below is 50%, while in the South East, it stands at 54%. Chair of SIGOMA Councillor Sir Stephen


Houghton, said an immediate investment of £10bn should be made available to provide retrofitting solutions that would help to improve the efficiency of 10% of the most deprived households across England. In 2019, the Conservative Manifesto promised


£9.2 billion to improve the efficiency rating of all UK homes. However, the real estate company Savills estimates that the cost of decarbonising all homes in the UK could reach £300bn. Improving the efficiency of homes is vital to reach


the Government’s net-zero target and relieving the cost-of-living crisis for the most deprived households and communities. Local authorities will be key to helping the Government achieve these targets, both in the enforcement of renting rules and assisting in the upliſt of residential properties with energy efficient solutions. SIGOMA has laid out a series of policy priorities that the Government should adopt in order for all


12 | HMMJune/July 2023 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


Improving the efficiency of homes is vital to reach the Government’s net-zero target and relieving the cost-of-living crisis for the most deprived households and communities.


UK households to reach a minimum EPC rating of C by 2028: Tese are: • Invest £10bn to help support the most deprived households in improving energy efficient homes;


• Create a dedicated Net Zero goal funding pot to help councils fund net zero projects;


• Provide block funding to Combined Authorities and other devolved bodies to avoid expensive and time-consuming bidding processes;


• Commit the adequate funding to upliſt all housing to EPC C by 2035, and 2028 for private rented accommodation, furthering net zero goals and alleviating fuel poverty.


• Increase funding provided through the Air Quality Grant Scheme to assist local authorities in tackling air pollution.


Sir Stephen Houghton, said: “Te Government needs to act quickly if we have any hope of reaching the EPC target, which is now just five years away. Our proposal today sets out a clear strategy that can give our members the tools and support to upliſt housing in some of the most deprived areas of the UK and put us on a clear path to achieving our net- zero objectives, while also helping to ease the cost- of-living crisis for the most deprived households and communities.”


Over 12 million homes need energy retrofitting in next five years


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