Homeless families evicted as landlords quit London emergency housing sector

London councils report 120% year-on-year rise in requests for return of properties used as temporary homes

Homeless families are being evicted from emergency accommodation to be replaced by private tenants as the number of landlords quitting the temporary housing sector in London more than doubled in eight months.

A survey by London Councils, the cross-party organisation representing the capital's local authorities, found that between September 2022 and April 2023, 15 boroughs reported receiving a notice to quit, a legal document requesting the return of a property, from landlords for 3,531 properties in use as temporary accommodation.