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
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Oral Evidence
Penny Hobman · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Rushanara Ali MP · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
5 Nov 2024
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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
10 results
Clear
2 Conclusion Deferred
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Families face prolonged temporary accommodation stays amid England's severe housing crisis.
During our inquiry we have also heard that, for many families, life in temporary accommodation is far from ‘temporary’. In some cases, families spend years in temporary accommodation, stuck in limbo without the stability of permanent accommodation and knowing that … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights the role of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) in investigating complaints and notes that the LGSCO received increased funding for 2025/26 due to increased demand. However, it does not address the core concern regarding the extended duration of stays in temporary accommodation or the underlying housing crisis.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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5 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Work with Ombudsman to review resourcing, jurisdiction, and powers for temporary accommodation complaints.
We are disappointed in the Minister for Homelessness and Democracy’s response that vulnerable families living in B&Bs should be expected to “raise a challenge in the courts or bring their concerns to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman” when … Read more
Government Response
The government did not address the recommendation to review the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's resourcing or powers. Instead, it highlighted its aim to reduce emergency accommodation use for families and the ongoing £8 million Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots with 20 local authorities.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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6 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Update Code of Guidance and end family placements sharing facilities with single adults.
We are alarmed to hear examples of families housed in temporary accommodation that included spaces shared with single adults with a history of domestic abuse. This is completely inappropriate and poses a potential safeguarding risk to children. Currently, there is … Read more
Government Response
The government deflected the recommendation to update the Code of Guidance on safeguarding in shared facilities by discussing existing reporting requirements for out-of-area placements and its efforts to improve the presentation, quality, and accessibility of this data.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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7 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Assess legislation suitability and update guidance to specify 'non-self-contained accommodation' for family protection.
The use of the term “B&B” in legislation means that the law does not prevent families being placed in similarly inappropriate accommodation, such as some hostels, which are not always covered by the six-week limit. (Conclusion, Paragraph 46) In its … Read more
Government Response
The government did not directly assess the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2023 or the proposed change in terminology from 'B&Bs' to 'non-self-contained accommodation'. Instead, it noted challenges with local placements and stated it would consider ways to further define acceptable out-of-area placements.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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11 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Issue guidance discouraging out-of-area property acquisition and consult on placement distance limits.
The Government must issue guidance to discourage local authorities from acquiring properties outside of their authority boundaries to use as temporary accommodation. Where this is not possible, the local authority must notify prospective host local authorities before it purchases any … Read more
Government Response
The government deflected the recommendation, stating the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) is developing a long-term homelessness strategy and will review its purpose after publication, but did not address the specific requests for guidance on out-of-area property acquisition, pre-purchase notification, or consulting on distance limits.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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12 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Update Code of Guidance requiring local authorities to notify host authorities before out-of-area placements.
We are deeply concerned to hear that several local authorities may be falling short of their legal duties regarding out-of-area placements, particularly the requirement to notify the host authority after placements are completed. There is currently no requirement for local … Read more
Government Response
The government deflected the recommendation to update the Code of Guidance for pre-notification of out-of-area placements. Instead, it mentioned the Inter-Ministerial Group's work on homelessness and plans to extend Awaab's Law to the private rented sector and temporary accommodation through future regulations and consultation.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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14 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Provide update on connecting homelessness data with public services and improve related data collection.
The Government should provide an update on its efforts to connect homelessness data with data from other public services, including health data, to take a more holistic approach to understanding the drivers of homelessness in England. It should also consider … Read more
Government Response
The government did not address the recommendation to update on connecting homelessness data with other public services or improving data collection for A&E, GP, and school absenteeism. Instead, it highlighted general efforts to publish a homelessness strategy, increase homelessness funding, boost affordable housing, and progress the Renters' Rights Bill.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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16 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Provide and publish detailed updates on Inter-Ministerial Group work, meetings, attendees, and family engagement.
In its response to this Report, the Government should provide: • an update on the work of the Inter-Ministerial Group to date; • the dates and attendance of any Inter-Ministerial Group meetings since January 2024; • the names of each … Read more
Government Response
The government did not provide any of the requested updates on the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), its meetings, attendance, or engagement with children and families. Instead, it detailed funding for the Local Authority Housing Fund, efforts to boost affordable housing supply, and plans for the Future Homes Standard.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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17 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Consider extending Awaab's Law to temporary accommodation and require rights information for residents.
The Group should consider how Awaab’s Law will be extended to temporary accommodation. The strategy on ending homelessness must clearly outline how all accommodation providers will be expected to fulfil this new requirement. Once Awaab’s Law is in force in … Read more
Government Response
The government did not address the recommendation concerning the extension of Awaab's Law to temporary accommodation, nor did it commit to outlining this in the homelessness strategy or requiring local authorities to provide information on tenant rights. Instead, it focused on its commitment to increasing social and affordable housebuilding through various funding programmes and development policies.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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18 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - England’s Homeless Ch…
Mandate the national homelessness strategy to ensure ministerial ownership and accountability for progress.
The Group should also consider whether the current balance of responsibilities for homelessness policy between local authorities and central government is compatible with a national strategy on tackling homelessness. The strategy on ending homelessness must address how government ministers will … Read more
Government Response
The government recognized the importance of balancing responsibilities and accountability for homelessness policy, stating that the forthcoming homelessness strategy will provide more detail on these matters.
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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