Thousands of Westminster households are homeless and trapped in temporary accommodation (TA), often for years. This research from Z2K, led by people who have lived in TA, explores the severe impact of the crisis and provides recommendations for local action.
What’s this?
This research by Z2K investigates the human impact of Westminster’s temporary accommodation crisis. Conducted by peer researchers with direct experience of homelessness, the study is based on interviews with residents currently living in temporary accommodation.
Why is this important?
Homelessness in London has spiraled over the past decade, and Westminster is one of the hardest-hit boroughs. In just one year (2022/23 to 2023/24), homelessness applications increased by 36%.
The borough has the fifth highest proportion of residents in temporary accommodation out of all London boroughs. In December 2024, there were just under 4,000 households in temporary accommodation in the borough.
For many, ‘temporary’ accommodation lasts years, not months—some residents wait up to 20 years for settled housing. This has devastating consequences for health, financial stability, and well-being.
Key findings
A sense of insecurity
- For many participants living in TA is defined by a sense of insecurity, with reported waits for settled accommodation lasting up to 20 years.
- The insecure nature of TA impacts people’s mental health and access to healthcare.
Unsuitable accommodation
- Many residents are placed in hotel accommodation without access to essential facilities like cooking, laundry and Wi-Fi.
- Some TA had significant issues, including infestations, damp and mould, which can
- Interviewees also reported inconsistent disrepair processes, and there was evidence that pre-placement inspections were inadequate.
- This significantly impacts households’ health and wellbeing, and causes financial difficulties.
- Some households are placed in accommodation which appears to breach legal requirements around suitability, including domestic abuse survivors being placed in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation, residents with being placed in accommodation which is not accessible, and families living in overcrowded conditions.
Residents placed in different boroughs
- Many residents are placed in TA outside of Westminster, which has a significant impact.
- It can lead to isolation, disruption to education and problems with accessing healthcare.
Dissatisfaction with communication
- There is a strong and widespread sense of dissatisfaction with Westminster City Council’s communication and information-sharing with people living in TA
- People often know little about the progress of their case or who to contact to report problems or request information.
Recommendations
Ultimately, tackling the temporary accommodation crisis requires significant investment in social housing.
But in the meantime, there are steps that local authorities can take to improve standards for people living in temporary accommodation. The report calls on Westminster Council to take several actions, including:
- Ensure that it prioritises procuring TA which includes essential facilities, and commit to always providing meals or financial support to households placed without a kitchen
- Continue its efforts to procure more TA within the borough, and deliver on its proposed commitment to provide more financial support for households placed outside it.
- Ensure it is carrying out thorough inspections to make sure it avoids placing households in substandard accommodation, and improves its processes for ensuring hazards in TA are addressed.