London councils "breaking the law" moving families to Durham

It comes after a special investigation found that local authorities in London have been discharging their homeless duty more than 250 miles away by placing families in Durham towns.

A charity supporting the families has described how many of the homes they have been given have been unsuitable, with broken windows or without gas.

The government has now confirmed that if families are being relocated then the council moving them is "required by law" to notify the local authority they are being sent to.

Both Durham County Council, Hartlepool Borough Council and Durham City MP Mary Kelly Foy have confirmed that in "most cases" the local authority has not been notified when a family has been moved to County Durham.

(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) Easington MP Grahame Morris, who has previously condemned the practice known as 'decanting' asked the Department of Housing to clarify the law as it appears in the Homeless Reduction Act 2017.

A spokesperson for the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "Councils should avoid placing households out of their borough.

"However, where suitable accommodation is not available, they are required by law to notify the receiving local authority of the placement."

But Councillor James Rowlandson, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for resources, investment and assets, confirmed to The Northern Echo: “In most cases we only become aware that people have been relocated to our area when we’re approached by councillors, local charities, members of the community or the families themselves, seeking support and assistance."

Mr Morris has condemned London councils for "breaking the law", adding that it is "difficult to comprehend" how displacing someone 250 miles from their home can be seen as moving a household as near as possible to the originating borough.

He said: "This is an issue I will continue to raise with Ministers. We know that London Boroughs are failing to notify Durham County Council when they discharge a homeless duty out of area.

“As confirmed by the Minister, these councils are breaking the law.

“It is difficult to comprehend the circumstance whereby moving someone 250 miles from London to the North East could be considered as placing the household as near as possible to the original local authority area.”

Ms Foy added: "The Home Office has been clear that if councils can't house people in their area, councils should house people as close as possible to the original local authority.

"Councils should also avoid moving people out of their borough. It beggars belief, then, that some London boroughs continue to send people to County Durham."

A Hartlepool Borough Council spokesperson said: "We do not consistently receive notifications from local authorities outside the area when they place individuals or families into accommodation in Hartlepool, so we very much welcome this clear response from the Government and its pledge to take action on this issue."

(Image: Yui Mok) Chris Bailey, campaign manager for Action on Empty Homes, slammed the “illegal” practice and said he believes North East towns are becoming “London’s modern leper colonies”.

A London Councils spokesperson said: "Boroughs make every effort to find accommodation for homeless households as close as possible to their community.

“Out-of-London placements are only made as a last resort when no suitable local options are available – or to support homeless families when they have a preference for relocating outside the capital. The vast majority of these placements are made in local authority areas just outside London, and boroughs aim to provide the wider support with settling that residents may require.

“One in 50 Londoners is currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, including one in every 23 children in the capital. London’s chronic shortage of affordable housing and high rates of homelessness mean that boroughs face extreme challenges in finding accommodation for homeless Londoners. We recognise the detrimental impact this has on households, especially families with children, and the impact on housing in other parts of the country.

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“London boroughs are as committed as ever to working with our fellow councils and with the government to tackle these issues and end homelessness altogether.”

The Government spokesperson added: "To prevent this from happening, we must now tackle the worst housing crisis in living memory and build more homes.

“We have already made substantial changes to the planning system to make it easier to build the 1.5 million homes we need. This includes the biggest social housebuilding programme in a generation which will make a real difference to people’s lives.”