County Durham MP slams the Government for not sanctioning London councils "breaking the law" by moving people hundreds of miles without notifying the local authority.

Grahame Morris, Labour MP for Easington and Horden, has condemned the practice and highlighted section 208 of the Housing Act as a "toothless tiger."

The Northern Echo has previously revealed that vulnerable families are being moved into unsuitable accommodation with broken doors and windows without local authorities being aware of the moves.

The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed that London councils are "required by law" to notify the local authorities they are moving families to.

They have not committed to sanctioning local authorities who are not abiding by the law but they have "reiterated to councils their clear legal duties".

A Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "Any council placing a household into accommodation in another area is legally required to notify the relevant local authority.

"It is clear this is not happening in some cases, and this is unacceptable. The government has reiterated to councils their clear legal duties."

Durham County Council and Hartlepool Borough Council have previously stated that in "most cases" this is not happening.

Grahame Morris MP said: "The Councils engaging in this disreputable practice know they are doing wrong, which is why they are routinely failing to notify receiving authorities. 

"This is a practice which must end, but section 208 of the Housing Act is a toothless tiger, with no sanction or repercussion for those Councils knowingly breaking the law.

"The Government must ensure Councils are abiding by the law."

London Councils have previously explained that they understand the "detrimental" impact of moving families to other parts of the country.

A 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 21 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."

A spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government responded to a number of Mr Morris' written questions about potential sanctions for London councils by highlighting the problems with numbers of homeless people.

They said: "Homelessness levels are far too high and can have a devastating impact on households affected, as well as putting local authorities and their services under financial strain.

"Homelessness legislation and the Code of Guidance sets out that local authorities should try to place individuals within their own area, and when this is not possible, they should place the household as near as possible to the original local authority.

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"The Government is clear that local authorities should, as far as possible, avoid placing households out of their borough. However, this is not always possible when there is a limited supply of suitable accommodation.

"Under section 208 of the Housing Act 1996, if a local authority places a household into accommodation in another local area, they are required by law to notify the local authority of any placement, to ensure there is no disruption to education or employment.

"This notification should be happening in every out of area placement."