Reading Borough Council has spent more than £5 million on temporary accommodation since 2021.

A new investigation highlights the significant increase in the number of households living in temporary accommodation in Reading, amounting to a cost of over £2.8 million for the council in just the past year.

Figures obtained by Personal Injury Claims UK show that in 2023/24, 451 households were living in temporary accommodation in Reading.

This accommodation is defined as being secured by a local housing authority to fulfil statutory homelessness functions.

The rise in temporary accommodation usage correlates with a record increase in the number of homeless people across the UK who are reliant on local authority-provided temporary housing.

Between June and September 2023, around 109,000 households, including 142,000 children, were in emergency housing, marking a 10 per cent rise from the same period the previous year.

The number of households in temporary accommodation in Reading was 249 in 2021/22, likely impacted by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis that has forced many to seek cheaper living options.

The following year, the number surged to 457, the highest level in the last three years.

Though there has been a slight decrease over the past year, with the number standing at 451, the situation remains concerning.

When specific temporary accommodation premises reach capacity, other forms of housing, such as hotels and bed and breakfasts, are utilised.

Hotels have become a primary form of temporary accommodation, with 50,546 people across England residing in hotel accommodation over the past year, reflecting a 10 per cent increase from the previous year.

As the number of people needing temporary accommodation has surged, so too have the costs associated with it.

Authorities are now grappling with exorbitant bills, and the short-term rental market, including platforms like Airbnb, has further limited the number of available properties for councils to use.

The financial strain on Reading Borough Council is evident in the figures for the last three years.

In 2021/22, the cost of temporary accommodation was £470,146, which then skyrocketed to £1,896,167 the following year.

For 2023/24, this figure has jumped to £2,826,221.

The total expenditure for temporary accommodation by councils in England exceeded £1 billion last year.

This escalating problem is pushing several authorities towards bankruptcy.

Some councils even had to enter into costly agreements with the last Conservative government to manage the surging costs of homelessness.

Personal Injury Claims UK provides free advice and support for those affected by temporary housing, particularly those injured while in such accommodation.

They offer a 24-hour helpline and online claim form, accessible on their website.