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Record Number of Children in England in Temporary Accommodation as Renters’ Reforms Take Effect

The figures point to a deep social housing shortage.

Overview

  • Official data report 176,130 children in temporary accommodation in England in December 2025, the highest on record.
  • A total of 134,210 households were in temporary lodging, up about 5% year over year, with the first quarterly fall since 2022.
  • The Renter’s Rights Act takes effect, ending Section 21 no-fault evictions, shifting fixed terms to rolling contracts, and strengthening challenges to rent hikes.
  • Families often remain for years in these placements, with the most common stay two to five years and over a third in nightly paid rooms.
  • Ministers cite a homelessness strategy with £3.6 billion in funding, while charities press for large-scale social housebuilding and stronger prevention.