I strongly agree with many of Denise Chevin’s comments (2 April, page 5) about temporary housing. It creates uncertainty and a poverty trap for tenants and means that significant amounts of public money go to private landlords instead of being used to increase the supply of affordable rented housing.

That’s why the London Housing Federation, with the Association of London Government, charity Shelter and the Greater London Authority, has long argued for more funds for permanent affordable housing and a better funding regime for temporary housing.

However, Chevin is wrong in equating the “squalid conditions” found in B&Bs with standards in alternative temporary housing. A large amount of temporary housing is leased from private landlords and managed by housing associations. It is self-contained and consists mainly of street properties.

We work closely with our local authority partners to set and maintain good standards for temporary housing and landlords often have to carry out significant improvements to homes before we will take them on.

Despite its shortcomings, temporary housing provides good-quality homes far superior to living in B&Bs and costs the public purse far less.

Source

Housing Today

Postscript

Steve Thomas, manager, emergency housing service, Family Housing Association and member of LHF, temporary housing advisory group