UK Homelessness Statistics: Temporary Accommodation and Rough Sleeping Data

Temporary accommodation: a record in every quarter

The number of households in temporary accommodation (TA) in England has reached a record high in every quarter since March 2023. At 30 June 2025, 132,410 households were in temporary accommodation, up 7.6% from 30 June 2024. This represents a 156% increase compared with the same quarter in 2010, when 51,310 households were in TA. Temporary accommodation includes bed and breakfasts, hostels, nightly-paid private sector accommodation, and local authority-arranged placements in the private rented sector or social rented sector.

The most expensive type -- B&Bs -- now accounts for 12.0% of placements, up from 3.8% in early 2009. Nightly-paid accommodation (the next most expensive category) now houses 46,710 families, 35.6% of all TA placements, up from 7.8% in 2009. This shift toward the most expensive accommodation types is placing severe financial pressure on local authorities, which are legally required to accommodate households owed a homelessness duty.

Children in temporary accommodation

The 172,420 children in temporary accommodation at 30 June 2025 represents the 10th consecutive record level, up 7.6% on the same quarter last year. The National Housing Federation estimated that 150,000 children would be living in temporary accommodation by 2030. This level has already been exceeded, six years earlier than predicted. Temporary accommodation, particularly B&Bs and nightly-paid placements, is frequently unsuitable for families: cramped conditions, shared facilities, lack of cooking equipment, and instability affect children's education, health and wellbeing. The average length of stay in temporary accommodation in London was three years and eleven months as of early 2025, according to the Institute for Government, compared with one year and four months elsewhere in England.

Rough sleeping

An estimated 8,732 people were rough sleeping throughout June 2025 according to MHCLG's Rough Sleeping Data Framework. This represents a 5% increase from June 2024 and a 13% increase from March 2025. The annual single-night snapshot count in Autumn 2024 recorded 4,667 people sleeping rough -- MHCLG's official headline figure for year-on-year comparison, though this single-night count is widely regarded by homelessness charities as an underestimate of the true scale of street homelessness. Nearly half of all rough sleepers are in London and the South East.

What drives homelessness: the structural causes

Demand for temporary accommodation is driven primarily by a shortage of social rented housing and the unaffordability of private rented housing for low-income households. The number of social rented homes in England has fallen significantly since 1980, from approximately 5.5 million to around 4 million, through Right to Buy sales, stock transfers, and demolition without like-for-like replacement. With social housing waiting lists long and growing, and Local Housing Allowance rates frequently below local market rents (the LHA rate is set at the 30th percentile of local rents and has lagged market increases during the rent inflation period), low-income households who cannot access social housing often cannot afford the private rented sector without assistance -- and if they cannot sustain a tenancy, homelessness follows.

The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, which extended local authority duties to prevent and relieve homelessness for a wider range of households, increased the number of households owed a duty but did not increase the supply of homes to accommodate them. Local authorities spent 3.8 billion pounds on homelessness in 2024-25, more than double the 1.4 billion pounds (in 2025-26 prices) spent in 2009-10, with over 80% of that increase coming in the last seven years alone.

The National Plan to End Homelessness

The Labour government published its National Plan to End Homelessness in December 2025, setting out a long-term vision and multiple commitments to increase TA supply, improve quality, and strengthen protections. From 2026-27, the government plans to consolidate all homelessness and rough sleeping revenue grants into a single funding stream. Whether the National Plan delivers material reductions in homelessness depends on housing supply increasing substantially -- particularly social rented housing -- and on Local Housing Allowance rates keeping pace with market rents.

How statutory homelessness is measured

MHCLG collects statutory homelessness data quarterly from all local authorities in England through the H-CLIC (Homelessness Case Level Information Collection) system. Local authorities report the number of households assessed as owed a prevention duty (threatened with homelessness within 56 days), a relief duty (already homeless), or a main housing duty. They also report the number of households in temporary accommodation on the last day of the quarter. The quarterly releases cover April to June, July to September, October to December, and January to March, published approximately four months after the end of each quarter. An annual single-night rough sleeping count is conducted each autumn and published separately.

How many people are homeless in England?

Shelter estimates at least 382,618 people were homeless in England in 2025 (1 in 153 people), using MHCLG data. MHCLG's statutory count shows 132,410 households in temporary accommodation at 30 June 2025 -- a record high -- plus 8,732 rough sleepers in June 2025.

How many children are in temporary accommodation in the UK?

There were 172,420 children in temporary accommodation in England at 30 June 2025, up 7.6% on the year and the 10th consecutive record high, according to MHCLG.

Why is temporary accommodation use so high?

The primary drivers are a shortage of social rented housing, Local Housing Allowance rates that lag behind market rents, and the unaffordability of private renting for low-income households. TA use has risen 156% since 2010 as social housing stock has declined and private rents have risen faster than benefits.

How much do councils spend on homelessness?

Local authorities in England spent 3.8 billion pounds tackling homelessness in 2024-25, more than double the 1.4 billion pounds (2025-26 prices) spent in 2009-10. The majority of the increase is driven by the rising cost of temporary accommodation.

When does MHCLG publish homelessness data?

MHCLG publishes statutory homelessness statistics quarterly, approximately four months after each quarter end. The annual rough sleeping count is published each winter. All releases are available at gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics.