Property

London’s homelessness crisis spreads to surrounding towns amid cost-driven relocations

Thursday, 30 October 2025 5:05AM UTC

As London's homelessness crisis deepens, vulnerable families are being relocated to towns like Harlow and Basildon, highlighting the growing inequalities and the urgent need for reform in housing policies.

London’s widening homelessness crisis is increasingly spilling beyond the capital's borders, with councils quietly relocating vulnerable families to temporary housing in surrounding towns and even further afield across the home counties. Towns such as Harlow, Basildon, Grays, and Slough are seeing a growing influx of Londoners placed in converted office blocks or other temporary accommodations by cash-strapped boroughs grappling with soaring housing costs and a shortage of affordable homes.

Chiara Repetti, a 31-year-old single mother, is one of many London residents uprooted to such outlying locations. After refusing a single room in Croydon, she was moved to Templefields House in Harlow by Lewisham Council, where she’s now endured five months in what she describes as prison-like conditions. The former office block has repeatedly been criticised for its unsafe environment, including reports of violence, drug use, and neglect. Chiara laments being isolated from her support network, unable to afford to visit her home borough, and facing what she calls a "cut off" life with her children.

This practice, according to council leaders in Harlow and Basildon, is "inhumane." Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council, condemned London boroughs for relocating homeless families far from their communities into substandard accommodation without sufficient support. The strain on Harlow’s infrastructure and services has been significant, with police data revealing a 20% spike in crime in the town centre following the opening of another temporary housing block there. Harlow Council has recently moved to buy and redevelop Terminus House, a symbol of the town’s decline linked directly to these housing pressures.

Families displaced by London boroughs face tremendous challenges. Momotaz Islam, another Templefields House resident from Redbridge, struggles to care for her husband who has severe health issues. She shares cramped accommodation with her children and has been unable to transfer her job to the new location. Her children endure exhausting commutes for their education, while the family receives little support from the placing council. Such disruption has profound consequences on residents’ wellbeing and stability.

The relocation of homeless Londoners is driven by the city’s acute housing shortage and ballooning costs. London Councils data reveals over 175,000 people now live in temporary accommodation arranged by local boroughs, equating to one in every 50 Londoners. Monthly spending on such accommodation has risen nearly 40% in a year, reaching £90 million, and boroughs collectively face a £740 million shortfall. The financial pressure means councils compete aggressively for cheaper housing outside London, sometimes paying double local rents, exacerbating tensions and creating bidding wars that further inflate prices.

The scale of the crisis is underscored by government data showing that over 336,000 London households are on social housing waiting lists, the highest number for a decade and a 32% rise since 2014. Many boroughs, such as Havering, now seek to convert empty office buildings in Essex and other counties into temporary housing to cut costs on expensive hotels and nightly lets. Yet this strategy merely relocates problems geographically rather than addressing root causes.

MyLondon’s Broken Homes campaign calls for reforms including a universal distance cap to prevent councils from placing families too far from their support networks, bans on discharging housing duties through unreasonable offers far away, and better collaboration between councils to manage temporary accommodation fairly and sustainably. Without national coordination and investment, the cycle of displacement is likely to continue, further stretching resources in towns around London and deepening hardship for thousands of displaced families.

This dispersed approach to housing vulnerable Londoners is widely viewed as unfair both to those forcibly moved and to the communities absorbing them. As leaders like Dan Swords emphasise, the Government must step in urgently to stop councils effectively pushing their homeless populations into other areas without support and to invest in long-term solutions focused on prevention and affordable housing provision.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/trojan-horse-how-london-councils-32583402 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-councils-homelessness-temporary-accommodation-autumn-budget-b1181551.html - This article discusses the escalating homelessness crisis in London, highlighting that over 175,000 individuals are now living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local council, equating to one in 50 residents in the city. It also notes that London Councils estimates the monthly spending on temporary accommodation has increased by nearly 40% over the past year, reaching £90 million per month. The article underscores the financial strain on boroughs and the urgent need for government intervention to address the crisis.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/temporary-housing-waiting-lists-lambeth-council-b1220289.html - This report reveals that a Lambeth family has been living in temporary accommodation 140 miles away in Herefordshire for over five years. The family is among 256 homeless households from the South London borough placed outside the capital as of December 31, 2024. The article highlights the severe shortage of affordable housing in London, leading councils to place more individuals further away from the city, and the challenges faced by families in such situations.
https://www.localgov.co.uk/Havering-to-house-homeless-people-in-empty-Essex-office-block/61823 - Havering Council has approved plans to convert an office block in Basildon, Essex, into residential units for homeless families. The council aims to lease the vacant building for 10 years and convert it into 34 two-bedroom properties by next February. This initiative is part of the council's strategy to move people out of expensive hotel and nightly-let temporary accommodation, potentially saving an estimated £1.8 million over the decade.
https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/news-and-press-releases/2025/ps740m-black-hole-londons-temporary-accommodation-crisis-draining - London Councils has highlighted a £740 million shortfall in temporary accommodation funding across London, equivalent to £202 per household. The report indicates that boroughs are now spending the equivalent of 11% of every household’s council tax bill on temporary accommodation alone. The analysis also shows that boroughs are spending £5.5 million a day on homelessness, emphasizing the financial strain and the need for urgent national policy action.
https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/news-and-press-releases/2025/londons-social-housing-waiting-lists-reach-10-year-high - Data released by the government shows that 336,366 households are on London local authority waiting lists for social housing in 2024, the highest figure for more than a decade. This represents a 32% increase since 2014. The article underscores the acute shortage of affordable homes in London and the escalating homelessness crisis, with over 183,000 Londoners currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local borough.
https://www.lse.ac.uk/news/london-boroughs-face-740-million-temporary-accommodation-shortfall - Researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE) found that eight London boroughs spent a combined £543 million on temporary accommodation in 2024/25, with all London boroughs facing an estimated £740 million shortfall, equivalent to £202 per household. The report highlights the significant financial strain on borough budgets due to the rising costs of temporary accommodation and the need for urgent reforms to the system.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative presents recent developments regarding London councils relocating homeless families to surrounding towns, with specific examples from Harlow and Basildon. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 24 January 2025, when Havering Council approved plans to house homeless families in converted office blocks. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/havering-council-office-homeless-move-b1206752.html?utm_source=openai)) The report includes updated data and quotes, indicating a high freshness score. However, the presence of similar content from earlier this year suggests that the narrative may be building upon existing information. The inclusion of updated data and quotes justifies a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/havering-council-office-homeless-move-b1206752.html?utm_source=openai)) The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, the presence of similar content from earlier this year suggests that the narrative may be building upon existing information. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/havering-council-office-homeless-move-b1206752.html?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative includes direct quotes from individuals such as Chiara Repetti, Dan Swords, and Momotaz Islam. The earliest known usage of these quotes is 24 January 2025, when Dan Swords condemned London boroughs for relocating homeless families far from their communities. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/havering-council-office-homeless-move-b1206752.html?utm_source=openai)) The quotes appear to be consistent with earlier material, suggesting potential reuse. However, no online matches were found for the quotes from Chiara Repetti and Momotaz Islam, raising the possibility of original or exclusive content. The wording of the quotes varies slightly, indicating potential paraphrasing.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative originates from MyLondon, a local news outlet. While it is a reputable organisation, it is not as widely recognised as national outlets like the BBC or Reuters. The report mentions specific individuals and councils, all of which can be verified online, indicating a reasonable level of reliability. However, the reliance on a single outlet for the narrative raises some uncertainty.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with known issues regarding homelessness and housing shortages in London. The report includes specific details such as the relocation of families to towns like Harlow and Basildon, and mentions of individuals like Chiara Repetti and Dan Swords. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. However, the lack of coverage from other reputable outlets on this specific narrative suggests it may be an emerging issue. The structure of the report is focused and relevant, with no excessive or off-topic detail.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents recent developments regarding the relocation of homeless families by London councils, with specific examples from Harlow and Basildon. While the content is largely original and includes updated data and quotes, the presence of similar content from earlier this year and the reliance on a single source raise some concerns. The plausibility of the claims is supported by known issues in the region, but the lack of coverage from other reputable outlets suggests the issue may be emerging. Further verification from additional sources is recommended to confirm the accuracy and originality of the content.

Homelessness
Housing Crisis
Temporary Accommodation