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%).

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