800% rise in homeless families housed in B&Bs for over six weeks

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Local Government and also in Communities, Housing

Monday 18th February 2013 - 4:55pm

'Unique' B&B-style accommodation for rough sleepers to open in London

The amount of homeless families being housed in B&Bs for over six weeks has risen by 800% since 2010's general election, new figures have revealed.

Freedom of Information requests by the Labour Party to 325 councils discovered that 125 had placed families in B&Bs for six weeks or more.

It is illegal for local authorities to use B&Bs to house homeless people for longer than six weeks.

Of the 325 councils approached, only 242 responded.

Last week it was revealed that Westminster City Council is paying over £1,500 per week to house homeless families in West End hotel rooms.