North East MPs and charity leaders have hit out at the "illegal" practice of London councils moving families hundreds of miles without notifying County Durham authorities.
Durham County Council has said that in "most cases" they only find out about families being moved from London to the area when alerted by local councillors and charities.
But a Government spokesperson confirmed that councils should avoid placing households out of their borough and, where not available, they are required "by law to notify the receiving local authority of the placement".
Grahame Morris, MP for Easington, who has raised the issue with Ministers, said: "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.
Councillor James Rowlandson, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for resources, investment and assets, said that some London councils offer their residents private tenancies in other parts of the country.
But he said that "in most cases" the authority only becomes aware that people have been relocated to County Durham "when we’re approached by councillors, local charities, members of the community or the families themselves, seeking support and assistance".
He added: "This can put additional pressure on our own services and, like other councils in the region which experience this, we welcome being given prior notice of a relocation as it allows us to ensure the residents are provided with the right support once they arrive in County Durham. We continue to work with other local authorities and partners to ensure these notifications are received in a timely manner.”
Chris Bailey, campaign manager for Action on Empty Homes, slammed the “illegal” practice and outlined how North East towns were becoming “London’s modern leper colonies”.
He said: “In recent weeks, The Northern Echo has been reporting on the scandal of London boroughs sending their homeless to the North East, to save money by securing cheaper accommodation than is available down South.
“Many of these councils are facing potential bankruptcy, due to the rising costs of accommodating over half of all the homeless families in England - but this doesn’t make this policy any more acceptable, particularly where what is happening is people being sent to County Durham and Teesside with no support and without the local authorities in those areas being notified.
He added: “It is a very sad reflection on the seriousness of our housing crisis that a local MP almost 300 miles away has to raise the issue in parliament to remind London councils of their legal duties.”
"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. It's impossible to believe that this is the nearest place to London that they could live.
"It's also a legal requirement of the sending authority that they inform the receiving council that people are being housed in their area, yet it seems from the conversations I have had in my constituency that this isn't happening.
"I intend to take the matter up again with both Durham County Council and the Home Office."
Jonathan Brash, MP for Hartlepool, has also raised the issue with ministers in government. He describes the situation as “completely unacceptable”.
He said: “This is something that I have also raised with ministers and I think it’s completely unacceptable for southern, affluent councils to discharge their homelessness duties by moving people to deprived areas like Hartlepool that are already struggling to cope.
“I’d urge ministers to tighten the guidance to prevent this from happening.”
She said: “We know that homelessness levels are high and that levels of temporary accommodation being provided by Local Authorities, at a considerable cost, is also very high.
“However, what we see are people moved hundreds of miles and removed from their support networks and sometimes existing employment. They arrive with very little and houses are sparsely furnished.
“In most cases there is no evidence of any notification being given to the local authority and services in the new area.
“Families are left with no support and not even basic information of how to find help.
“Support services, like ourselves, often find out about the families by accident- a well-meaning neighbour, a teacher, a local advice centre, a church - are concerned and make contact asking for help for the family and it is those services that notify the council often weeks after their arrival.
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“If notice where given, although not solving the problems of moving so far away, some level of help could be put in place earlier.”
London Councils said: "Boroughs make every effort to find accommodation for homeless households as close as possible to their community.
"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."
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