More than 1,600 homeless families left in English hotels and B&Bs past legal limit

Number of families stuck in temporary rooms for more than six weeks is highest since 2003

The number of homeless families being housed by English councils in hotels and B&Bs for longer than the legal limit is at its highest in 20 years.

The latest government figures show that 1,630 families were being housed in hotels and B&Bs by councils in England past the six-week legal limit between October and December last year. This is the highest reported figure since 2003. It also marks the highest quarterly increase ever recorded, jumping 35% since data was last reported, for July to September last year.