More than 100 councils to meet in crisis summit over ‘crippling’ temporary accommodation costs

A spokesperson for the organisers told Inside Housing that “over 100” councils have said they will attend the online summit being held on Tuesday.

Lee Rowley, local government minister and a former housing minister, has been invited to the event, according to the organisers. However Inside Housing understands that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) does not have a record of him being invited. 

According to the summit’s organisers, the event will look at various solutions for the government to consider.

This includes giving district councils the “powers, funding and resources needed to increase the supply of social housing”.

Increasing Local Housing Allowance rates for private rented accommodation and developing “policy to stimulate retention and supply in the privately rented sector” will also be examined.

The event will also look at the idea of reviewing the housing benefit subsidy rate for local authority homelessness placements.

Boosting the level of discretionary housing payment and homelessness prevention grant is also expected to be discussed.

Hannah Dalton, the DCN spokesperson for health, housing and hardship, said: “Across the country, we are experiencing a spiralling tide of need, driven by a severe shortage of social housing, the cost of living crisis and an unstable and unaffordable private rented sector.

“This means, as district councils, we are placing an unprecedented number of people in temporary accommodation, which is cripplingly expensive for councils and unsuitable for residents.”

An increasing number of local authorities have been facing financial difficulties, with Woking Borough Council among the latest to face government intervention.