Councils to house homeless in boats & caravans

Published 06th Sep 2011

Councils will be permitted to house the homeless in houseboats and caravans from 2012, the Communities and Local Government department has said.

Under the terms of the proposed Localism Bill, the homeless will not be able to refuse private accommodation offered to them by local authorities. Currently, councils can only offer homeless people shelter in social housing, and last year 61,000 households were recognised as newly homeless.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps said that authorities should consider how newly restored local controls over housing provision and planning could enable people to choose boats over bricks and mortar.

Alastair Murray, deputy director of Housing Justice, said the move seemed 'a bit desperate'.

Source: ' UK Property News '

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