More than 700 additional local families are now living in temporary accommodation compared with two years ago, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Barnet Council's Colindale offices and (inset) cabinet member Ross Houston — Barnet Council’s Colindale offices and (inset) cabinet member Ross Houston

Barnet Council has recorded a 32% increase in the number of people living in temporary accommodation (TA) over the last two years.

The council has released a report showing that, back in August 2023, 2,235 households were living in TA but, two years later, this has increased to 2,955.

It has also forecast TA placements will continue growing to a peak of around 4,000-4,250 households by 2030.

London as a whole has only seen an average rise in TA usage of 22%, with 60,100 households in March 2023 and 73,200 in March 2025.

Another borough that saw an “increased demand” was Westminster which had a 42% rise over the past two years, while Wandsworth only saw a 13% rise.

Ross Houston, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes and regeneration, set out the “steps” the council was taking to reduce the cost of TA and increase supply at an overview and scrutiny meeting yesterday (Thursday 13th).

Explaining how the net cost of TA for 2025/26 was projected to hit £15.5million, Cllr Houston said: “Our key challenges are insufficient supply of affordable homes. Only 650 social housing properties become available annually with waiting times for lower quality bands exceeding 19 years.

“Private rented sector (PRS) options are increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible resulting in a 32% increase in TA placements over the past two years.”

The Labour councillor also said applications for homelessness assistance had risen by 83% since 2021/22 “stretching staff capacity and increasing time households spend in TA”.

To mitigate the risk, the council is aiming to expand early intervention and service design, and increase supply and minimise cost by lobbying central government.

Committee member and Conservative Shimon Ryde asked how the council was going to encourage the PRS to “increase that supply of TA”.

Cllr Houston said the Renters’ Rights Act which was passed in October will mean that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions are abolished “giving tenants greater security”.

He added the council was aiming to establish “long-term arrangements” with key people in the PRS.

Karen Lucas, head of housing options at Barnet Homes, said the council offered financial incentives to PRS landlords to “keep people living in the property or incentivise somebody to move into the rented sector”.

Expanding on how the council was going to improve communication, Karen said the Barnet partnered with community organisations, particularly those working with homeless people, to get feedback on how to best present information.

She also said an officer regularly attended Chipping Barnet Food Bank because attendees could also have housing issues.

Following the discussion the committee agreed to increase lobbying to central government and to ensure the resources “put into the lobbying matched the scale of the problem”.

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