Delivering Housing Where It’s Needed: Responding to Temporary Accommodation Demand

Record demand, rising pressure and a changing landscape - why getting the right temporary accommodation to the right places matters more than ever

The latest temporary accommodation figures make one thing clear: pressure on housing supply is showing little sign of easing.

As of 31 March 2026, 135,580 households were living in temporary accommodation in England - the highest level on record and 3.6% higher than a year earlier.

Among those households were 177,530 children, an increase of 5.2% year-on-year.

But behind the national figures is another challenge: ensuring that suitable accommodation is available where it is actually needed.

For local authorities, landlords and temporary accommodation providers, increasing housing supply is only part of the answer. The type, location and readiness of that accommodation matter too.

London Continues to Face Significant Pressure

The latest government statistics show how concentrated temporary accommodation demand remains in London.

Nationally, 5.5 households per 1,000 were living in temporary accommodation at the end of March 2026. In London, that figure was 21.1 per 1,000 households - almost four times the national rate.

This creates a significant challenge for councils trying to secure enough suitable accommodation within or close to their own boroughs.

More Than 43,000 Households Are Living Outside Their Local Authority Area

On 31 March 2026, 43,180 households owed a temporary accommodation duty were living in accommodation in another local authority area, up 4.1% from the previous year. Of these placements, 35,460 - more than 82% - were made by London authorities.

While out-of-area placements will sometimes be necessary, the figures highlight why developing housing supply in the areas experiencing the greatest demand is so important.

For families, location can also affect access to schools, employment, healthcare, relatives and established support networks.

Recent legislation has placed further emphasis on these connections.

New Temporary Accommodation Rules for Children

From 1 September 2026, a new Temporary Accommodation Notification Duty came into effect in England as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.

For relevant new homelessness applications, local housing authorities must now take reasonable steps, where the required agreement has been given, to notify a child's educational institution, GP practice and health visiting service when that child is placed into temporary accommodation.

With 177,530 children currently living in temporary accommodation, it is another reminder that housing placements can have consequences beyond simply providing somewhere to stay.

For those working within the sector, it also reinforces the importance of supporting children and families experiencing periods of uncertainty - something that closely aligns with our wider values at Apex.

Supporting the NSPCC

This September, the Apex team came together to take part in a charity race in support of the NSPCC.

As a business working within the temporary accommodation sector, we see the importance of providing safe and secure housing for families during periods of uncertainty. Supporting a charity dedicated to protecting children and helping young people therefore felt closely aligned with the work we do and the communities we support.

We were proud to complete the challenge as a team and contribute towards a cause that means so much to us.

The Right Supply, Not Just More Supply

Alongside the wider impact on families, the latest figures also highlight the importance of having the right type of accommodation available.

At the end of March, 51,390 households - 37.9% of all households in temporary accommodation - were living in nightly paid self-contained accommodation.

For providers, the challenge isn't simply to grow the number of properties available. It is to provide the right properties, in the right areas, ready when local authorities need them.

At Apex Housing Solutions, our relationships with local authorities help us understand where accommodation is required and the property types currently in demand.

That information can then guide our acquisition activity and landlord network, helping us focus on sourcing properties that respond to genuine local housing requirements.

There is no single solution to the wider pressures facing temporary accommodation. But a more targeted approach to housing supply can make a difference.

For Apex, that means listening to our local authority partners, understanding where the need is greatest and working with our landlord network to bring suitable, compliant properties into those areas.

Because delivering temporary accommodation isn't simply about providing more housing.

It's about delivering the right housing, where it's needed.