5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temporary Accommodation
Select Committee
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
HC 1831
22 April 2026
Government response
Housing Conditions in Temporary Accommodation: Government response to the Select Committee Report · published 24 Jun 2026
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
2
Recommendation
Deferred
We recommend that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government use the English Housing...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government use the English Housing Survey to routinely collect and publish national data on the quality of all types of temporary accommodation from 2027/28 onwards. (Recommendation, Paragraph 15) Hazards and …
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Government Response Summary
The government agreed with the need to improve understanding of temporary accommodation quality and is investigating options to enhance data collection, building on existing surveys like the English Housing Survey. They committed to providing an update to the Committee in the autumn.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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7
Recommendation
Deferred
We welcome the government’s intention to apply Awaab’s Law to temporary accommodation.
Recommendation
We welcome the government’s intention to apply Awaab’s Law to temporary accommodation. The power to take legal action against their provider for failing to resolve serious hazards in a timely manner will substantially strengthen the protections that exist for people …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated that Awaab's Law already applies to social rented temporary accommodation and they will soon consult on extending its scope to private rented temporary accommodation and those occupied under licence. They will consider the recommendation for a phased rollout as part of their response to this consultation.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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8
Recommendation
Deferred
The government should begin to rollout Awaab’s Law urgently to ensure the regulations are fully...
Recommendation
The government should begin to rollout Awaab’s Law urgently to ensure the regulations are fully applied to temporary accommodation by the end of 2028/29. By then, legal timescales must be in place covering all applicable significant and emergency hazards covered …
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Government Response Summary
The government states Awaab’s Law already applies to social housing tenancies used as temporary accommodation. For other temporary accommodation types, they will soon consult on extending the law's scope and will consider this recommendation as part of their consultation response.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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18
Recommendation
Deferred
It is not acceptable for households in temporary accommodation to be left living for months,...
Recommendation
It is not acceptable for households in temporary accommodation to be left living for months, if not longer, without access to the basic facilities they need for daily life. The ministry must introduce further measures to improve households’ access to …
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Government Response Summary
The government commits to engaging with the sector and reviewing how to implement the Decent Homes Standard across temporary accommodation, but defers a decision on specific amendments or routes until further consideration.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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20
Recommendation
Deferred
We recommend that the Secretary of State amend the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) Order 2003...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Secretary of State amend the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) Order 2003 to extend the six-week limit to accommodation that cannot comply with the new Decent Homes Standard. The six-week limit should apply from the date that …
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Government Response Summary
The government will engage with the sector to understand how to implement the Decent Homes Standard across temporary accommodation and review compliance, but is not yet in a position to confirm amending the Suitability Order, though it will be considered.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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25
Conclusion
Deferred
The rules that determine the amount of money councils can claim through the Housing Benefit...
Conclusion
The rules that determine the amount of money councils can claim through the Housing Benefit subsidy system is restricting their ability to source good-quality temporary accommodation for households. The Department for Work and Pension’s ongoing freeze of the subsidy rates …
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Government Response Summary
The government states the DWP is keeping Housing Benefit subsidy levels under review and commits to considering the best way to sustainably fund good-quality temporary accommodation, linking it to a thematic review on homelessness.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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26
Recommendation
Deferred
We recommend that the Department for Work and Pensions unfreeze the subsidy rates by increasing...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Department for Work and Pensions unfreeze the subsidy rates by increasing the rate councils are reimbursed to match the current Local Housing Allowance rate. We also recommend that the Government conduct a detailed review of the …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated that the Department for Work and Pensions is keeping Housing Benefit subsidy levels under review, with future decisions dependent on government missions and fiscal context, rather than committing to unfreezing rates to match LHA. They are also committed to considering sustainable funding and will engage with stakeholders through the Thematic Value for Money Review to identify appropriate ways forward for subsidy rules.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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