London councils are increasingly relocating homeless families hundreds of miles away to deprived areas, a practice that has doubled in frequency over the past two years. According to freedom of information requests, local authorities have moved families into sparsely furnished properties in towns like Bolton, Blackpool, and Hartlepool, often citing a severe shortage of social housing and the inability of housing allowances to keep pace with private market rents in the capital.
The Human Cost of Relocation
Charities and local leaders have described the strategy as inhumane, alleging that vulnerable individuals—including refugees with limited English proficiency—are being targeted for these forced moves. Jonathan Brash, the Labour MP for Hartlepool, characterized the practice as a “disgrace,” stating that it is “ripping at the social fabric” of his community. Brash noted reports of families being “bundled into taxis in the middle of the night” without adequate notice or support, leaving local services in northern towns to manage the sudden influx of households.
Did You Know? In one instance, an Ealing council official provided a vulnerable woman fleeing a sex trafficking gang with contact details for support organizations, only for it to be discovered that the agencies were located in Durham, North Carolina, and Durham, Ontario.
Legal and Financial Pressures
Under the Housing Act, councils are required to find accommodation within their own borough whenever reasonably practical. Despite this, official figures indicate that approximately 1,300 homeless households were moved out of London by councils in the year ending March 2025, compared to 670 in the year ending March 2023. Some authorities, including Enfield and Croydon, have signed contracts worth hundreds of thousands of pounds with private firms like Reloc8 to facilitate these placements.
Expert Insight: The reliance on private intermediaries to bypass local housing shortages suggests a systemic failure in current policy. While councils argue they are managing a “severe” crisis, the practice risks creating long-term social instability in the receiving towns, as families are disconnected from existing support networks, schools, and cultural services.
What May Happen Next
As the number of families moved to the north-east of England is expected to rise, local MPs and housing advocates are calling for formal sanctions against councils that act unlawfully. There is a potential for further high court challenges, similar to the case won by an Albanian mother against Ealing council last year. Meanwhile, London Councils has indicated it is meeting with northern counterparts to address the rising tensions, though the sustainability of the current approach remains a point of significant contention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are London councils moving families out of the city?
Councils are struggling with a severe shortage of social housing and temporary accommodation. Because housing benefit rates have not kept pace with private rents, many boroughs are paying private firms to relocate families to more affordable areas of the country.
How many homeless families have been moved?
Official figures suggest 1,300 households were moved out of London by councils in the year to March 2025, though charities believe the true number is higher because many private-rented placements are not captured in official data.
What is the legal requirement for housing homeless families?
Under the Housing Act, local authorities must find accommodation within their own borough if it is reasonably practical. If they move a family outside the area, they are legally required to notify the local authority in the receiving area.
How should the government balance the urgent need for housing against the social impact on the communities receiving these families?
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