Children in Temporary Accommodation

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 31 Oct 2024 Closed: 23 Jul 2025 Parliament page
This short inquiry is scrutinising issues around the quality of temporary accommodation provision and pressures on local authority finances in England. The inquiry considers how children and families in temporary accommodation could be better supported by Government, local authorities, and accommodation providers. Read more
16 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
1 Letter
2 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
16 Jun
2025
Report published
3 Apr
2025
Report published
21 Jan
2025
Oral evidence
21 Jan
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
20 Nov
2024
Correspondence
5 Nov
2024
Oral evidence
5 Nov
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
21 Jan 2025
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Penny Hobman · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Rushanara Ali MP · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
5 Nov 2024
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Chris Hancock · Hastings Borough Council Councillor Grace Williams · London Councils Councillor Hannah Dalton · District Councils Network Dr Laura Neilson · Shared Health Foundation Emma Haddad · St Mungo's Francesca Albanese · Crisis Hannah Courtney-Adamson · Rochdale Borough Council Rebecca Walker · CARIS Families
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - England’s Homeless Children: The crisis in temporar… HC 338 3 Apr 2025 24 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Persistent appalling conditions in temporary accommodation gravely endanger children's health and wellbeing.
The appalling conditions in some temporary accommodation in England are utterly shameful. We are concerned that issues of poor-quality temporary accommodation continue to persist, even though it is now over five years since the then Children’s Commissioner described these conditions … Read more
Government Response
The government is taking action through the Renters’ Rights Bill to introduce powers to apply the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector, with the intention of bringing temporary accommodation within its scope, subject to consultation on implementation details and appropriate enforcement mechanisms.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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4 Conclusion Accepted
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Unlawful and prolonged use of B&Bs for family temporary accommodation is increasing.
The shortage of social housing in England has led local authorities to rely on using B&Bs and other accommodation with shared facilities as temporary accommodation, which are inappropriate and potentially unsafe environments for children to grow up in. The Government … Read more
Government Response
The government clarified that certain hostels are covered by the B&B definition in legislation and reiterated its stance that privately managed shared accommodation is generally unsuitable for families, though good quality shared facilities can serve as a stepping stone.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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9 Conclusion Accepted
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Out-of-area temporary accommodation placements cause devastating impacts and lack reliable data.
Out-of-area temporary accommodation placements have a devastating impact on families, leaving them far from their extended family, friends, and support network, and causing disruption to children’s education. There is a lack of reliable data on how out-of-area placements are currently … Read more
Government Response
The government stated it has laid provision in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to introduce a single unique identifier (SUI) nationally to improve information sharing, and is considering further policy options across departments to improve the lives of children in temporary accommodation.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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15 Conclusion Accepted
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Ending homelessness strategy requires cross-government buy-in, collaboration, clear actions, and funding.
It is essential that the strategy to end homelessness has buy-in across all government departments and local authorities, and so we welcome the creation of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping to bring about this collaboration. It is … Read more
Government Response
The government highlighted existing and increased funding for housing support, Local Housing Allowance, the Household Support Fund, Discretionary Housing Payments, and the Homelessness Prevention Grant, stating these measures contribute to preventing homelessness.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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23 Recommendation Accepted
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Extend support for local authorities to acquire temporary accommodation, including empty affordable homes.
Local authority owned housing for temporary accommodation is a more cost-efficient means of providing higher quality temporary accommodation for families in the long term. It is unacceptable that some affordable homes are currently sitting empty while families are stuck in … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the recommendation, increasing the Local Authority Housing Fund by £50 million to £500 million to help local authorities acquire temporary accommodation, including empty affordable homes, within their areas, and committed to publishing the Future Homes Standard to address environmental requirements.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Government Response AI assessment · 24 of 16 classified
Accepted 5
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 10
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 2
Total 16 recs + 8 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
20 Nov 2024 To committee Letter from the National Residential Landlords Association to the Chair dated 14 November 2024 concerning children in temporary accommodation
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