Title

FINANCE

Quarter of councils spending 5% of budgets on temporary accommodation

One in four councils in England spent 5% of their core budgets on temporary accommodation in 2022-23, research has revealed.

One in four councils in England spent 5% of their core budgets on temporary accommodation in 2022-23, research has revealed.

An analysis of 249 councils found that 59 (24%) spent at least £1 in every £20 of their core spending power (CSP) on temporary accommodation in 2022-23.

Conducted by campaign group Generation Rent, the research found 20 (8%) spent at least £1 in every £10.

According to the Local Government Association, the number of households living in temporary accommodation has risen by 89% over the past decade, costing councils at least £1.74bn in 2022-23.

The councils spending the most on temporary accommodation relative to their budgets during the last financial year were Hastings (49% of CSP), Crawley (30%), Arun (26%), Swale (22%), and Rother (20%).

FINANCE

The Budget: A step towards fiscal devo

By Heather Jameson | 02 December 2025

The Budget took its first steps towards local government finance reform and Total Place 2.0, but did it resolve any of the major issues facing local governme...

FINANCE

The National Housing Bank: Will it help councils build?

By Jack Shaw | 21 November 2025

The question of whether the National Housing Bank becomes a central plank of housebuilding and renewal or a missed opportunity will depend on the choices the...

FINANCE

Fixing the easiest win in care spending

By Tracie Langley | 18 November 2025

A pioneering care staffing platform could save councils millions, topple agency dependence and put control back where it belongs – with providers and carers,...

FINANCE

Temporary accommodation funding freeze costs districts £268m a year

By Dan Peters | 10 November 2025

A funding freeze on Government support for temporary accommodation is draining English district councils of £268m a year, with the average authority losing £...

Popular articles by William Eichler