Coppetts Road
Faced with an unprecedented rise in homelessness and the increasing cost and demand for temporary accommodation (TA), Barnet Council has launched its Temporary Accommodation Reduction Plan, setting out the Council’s strategic response for the next four years.
Despite extensive prevention efforts and new housing initiatives, Barnet, along with councils across London and the UK,faces a critical shortage of affordable homes, growing reliance on costly emergency temporary accommodation, and a widening gap between available resources and rising need.
Barnet has already seen an 83% increase in homelessness applications since 2021/22, while the cost per emergency TA unit has risen by nearly 300% in just 30 months. Without further action, annual TA costs could escalate from £14m in 2024/25 to £31m by 2030, with a forecast peak of around 4,000 households in TA by 2030.
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, Cllr Ross Houston, said:
“Our new Temporary Accommodation Plan is committed to ensure Barnet residents are supported with suitable housing, while annual TA costs are managed effectively.
“This plan explores every possible approach to meet the housing needs of the borough’s most vulnerable people. By minimising costs, we will continue to protect the public purse.
“By managing demand and increasing supply, we can reduce the number of people living in temporary accommodation. Barnet Council is committed to securing delivery of 1,000 new council homes by 2026, and these new homes will help support families in need.”
The plan addresses three key areas:
- Managing demand by expanding early intervention schemes to prevent evictions, extending successful pilot projects, and prioritising work with private sector landlords to keep families in their homes for longer.
- Increasing supply by accelerating the delivery of affordable homes through new builds, acquisitions, and partnerships, with a particular focus on accessible and specialist housing.
- Maximising income and minimising costs by tackling Housing Benefit subsidy issues through alternative structures for securing non-council temporary accommodation, exploring alternative rent models, and continuing to lobby for national reforms.
The TA Reduction Plan forms part of Barnet Council’s overarching “Our Plan for Barnet”, which puts caring for people, places, and the planet at the heart of everything it does.
The full plan is available on the Barnet Council website: Temporary Accommodation Reduction Plan 2026-2030