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Council buys local hotel to house homeless on temporary basis (14 June 2016)

Date: 14/06/2016
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Council buys local hotel to house homeless on temporary basis

Spelthorne Borough Council has announced its decision to purchase a hotel in Ashford, to provide temporary accommodation for homeless households.

Spelthorne Council has been using the hotel to place homeless households for some time, paying the previous owner nightly rental rates.

The decision to purchase Harper Hotel on Fordbridge Road was taken at an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet on 7 April.

The property – which cost just over £2 million – will provide accommodation for up to 20 households, once planned refurbishment works are completed.

Spelthorne local authority says it is continuing to face a number of challenges in responding to housing demand and preventing homelessness, which are compounded by the fact that property in Surrey is relatively expensive.

Currently, there are 74 Spelthorne families living in temporary bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation – many of whom have been placed outside the borough in places such as East Berkshire and West London, due to the lack of suitable local properties.

However, Councillor Ian Harvey has made acquiring property assets to help address local housing problems and improve conditions for households in temporary accommodation a key priority since his appointment as the Leader of Spelthorne Council.

In the last financial year, the council spent £484,000 on temporary accommodation – and with demand looking likely to increase, the council says it is keenly focused on controlling the cost of providing this service.

Cllr Harvey said:

“Since taking on the role of leader, I have been determined to improve the availability of local emergency accommodation, so I'm delighted that we have completed on the purchase of this particular property and can provide better support for vulnerable people in our borough.”

Spelthorne Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Jean Pinkerton OBE, added:

“Acquiring this property will increase our flexibility and allow us to provide a good facility for Spelthorne's homeless households.

“Being forced to move out of the borough can be very disruptive and remove people from their support network.

“Having a fixed number of accommodation units here in Spelthorne will be extremely positive for all concerned.

“Financially speaking, the provision of emergency and temporary accommodation represents a significant expense for the council, so it's important that we continue to explore innovative ways to reduce these costs.”

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise landlords and public sector or private sector tenants on a wide range of housing matters – including right to rent checks, landlord’s obligations under the Housing Act, disrepair of rented accommodation, Landlord and Tenant disputes, tenancy agreements and unlawful eviction.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and our housing law solicitors can also advise on Local Authority housing, homelessness and council’s obligation to re-house.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

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