Response 4099894

Response to request for information

Reference

4099894

Response date

7 September 2026

Request

Please treat this as a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please treat this request as addressed to the public authority receiving this email. I am seeking recorded information about your authority’s current use and procurement of temporary accommodation (TA), including accommodation obtained from private landlords, agents, companies, managing agents, registered providers and other external suppliers.

Please provide, where held: 

1. A copy of the authority’s current policy, specification, property standard, landlord/provider guide or other recorded criteria used when assessing privately supplied temporary accommodation. 
2. The property types currently accepted or sought for Temporary Accommodation (TA), including bedroom sizes, self-contained units, flats, houses, HMOs, blocks, B&B/hotel accommodation and any specialist or accessible accommodation.
3. Any current recorded geographical restrictions, including whether properties outside the authority’s area are accepted and, if so, which areas are currently considered. 
4. The current standard contractual or commercial arrangements offered to private landlords/providers, including typical lease/licence length, break clauses, rent/payment basis, void arrangements, repair responsibilities, council tax/utilities responsibilities and any guaranteed-rent provisions. 
5. The minimum property compliance requirements currently applied, including Energy Performance Certificate, gas safety, electrical safety/Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), fire safety, HMO/selective/additional licensing, insurance and any inspection/HHSRS requirements. 
6. The number of households placed in TA at the latest available reporting date, broken down where held by household/property size. 
7. For financial year 2025/26, the total gross expenditure on TA and, where held, the amount paid to external private-sector accommodation providers. 
8. For 2025/26, the number of TA units sourced from private landlords/companies/providers, and the number of units located outside the authority’s area.
9. A list of current frameworks, dynamic purchasing systems, approved supplier lists, leasing schemes or other procurement routes through which private landlords, property companies or agents can offer accommodation to the authority, including the relevant procurement/contact route.
10. Any current recorded statement of priority property demand or shortage, for example demand for 1/2/3/4 bedroom homes, HMOs, accessible homes or particular locations.
11. The name or job title and generic contact details of the team responsible for acquiring or commissioning temporary accommodation from private landlords or external providers.

Response

1. A copy of the authority’s current policy, specification, property standard, landlord/provider guide or other recorded criteria used when assessing privately supplied temporary accommodation. The Council does not hold any policies, specifications, property standards, landlord/provider guides or other recorded criteria used specifically for assessing privately supplied temporary accommodation.
2. The property types currently accepted or sought for Temporary Accommodation (TA), including bedroom sizes, self-contained units, flats, houses, HMOs, blocks, B&B/hotel accommodation and any specialist or accessible accommodation. The Council owns and manages a family hostel which is used as temporary accommodation for homeless households. In addition, bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation may be procured on an ad hoc basis where required.
3. Any current recorded geographical restrictions, including whether properties outside the authority’s area are accepted and, if so, which areas are currently considered. The Council does not operate any recorded geographical restrictions. However, when considering any out-of-area placement, the Council is required to comply with its duties under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended), including the suitability requirements relating to temporary accommodation. 
4. The current standard contractual or commercial arrangements offered to private landlords/providers, including typical lease/licence length, break clauses, rent/payment basis, void arrangements, repair responsibilities, council tax/utilities responsibilities and any guaranteed-rent provisions. The Council does not have any standard contractual or commercial arrangements of this nature. Bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation is procured on an ad hoc basis as required.
5. The minimum property compliance requirements currently applied, including Energy Performance Certificate, gas safety, electrical safety/Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), fire safety, HMO/selective/additional licensing, insurance and any inspection/HHSRS requirements. The Council does not hold recorded information falling within the scope of this question, as it does not operate a formal scheme for procuring temporary accommodation from private landlords or providers.
6. The number of households placed in TA at the latest available reporting date, broken down where held by household/property size. As at 31 August 2026. Council-owned family hostel - 6 families with children. Bed and breakfast accommodation - 8 households (7 single-person households and 1 family with 2 children).
7. For financial year 2025/26, the total gross expenditure on TA and, where held, the amount paid to external private-sector accommodation providers. This information has previously been provided in response to Freedom of Information request reference 3965158.
8. For 2025/26, the number of TA units sourced from private landlords/companies/providers, and the number of units located outside the authority’s area. The Council does not hold recorded information falling within the scope of this question. 
9. A list of current frameworks, dynamic purchasing systems, approved supplier lists, leasing schemes or other procurement routes through which private landlords, property companies or agents can offer accommodation to the authority, including the relevant procurement/contact route. The Council does not operate any frameworks, dynamic purchasing systems, approved supplier lists, leasing schemes or other procurement routes for the acquisition of temporary accommodation from private landlords, property companies or letting agents.
10. Any current recorded statement of priority property demand or shortage, for example demand for 1/2/3/4 bedroom homes, HMOs, accessible homes or particular locations. The Council does not hold recorded information of this nature.
11. The name or job title and generic contact details of the team responsible for acquiring or commissioning temporary accommodation from private landlords or external providers. The Council does not have a dedicated team responsible for acquiring or commissioning temporary accommodation from private landlords or external providers. Where required, hotel or bed and breakfast accommodation is arranged on an ad hoc basis by officers within the Council's Housing Service.