Ministers could ban London councils from sending homeless families hundreds of miles away under measures being considered to crack down on the practice, the Guardian has learned. The practice, which has grown due to Britain's housing crisis, involves relocating vulnerable people, including women fleeing abuse, to cheap, sparsely furnished properties in some of the poorest parts of the country.
Impact on Vulnerable Families
Charities have reported that some domestic abuse victims have returned to their abusers because they did not want to move north, while others have had to remain in emergency refuges. MPs have described the situation as "coercing" families into choosing between rough sleeping or moving far away.
Government Response
Alison McGovern, the homelessness minister, acknowledged the practice is a "real worry" and said the government is prepared to "clamp down on the worst form of it" after a review. Government guidance states that out-of-area placements should not be determined solely by cost, but McGovern indicated that further action may be needed as "something is clearly not working here."
Any ban on long-distance moves is likely to include exceptions for those who need to leave London. Jonathan Brash, the Labour MP for Hartlepool, called for the law to be "radically tightened" to stop a policy he said is increasing local tension and "ripping at the social fabric" of his town.
Legal and Financial Concerns
Under the Housing Act, councils must find accommodation in their borough if reasonably practical. If outside, they must notify the other local authority. However, several London councils have been found by the high court to have acted unlawfully in recent years. Housing lawyers, charities, and MPs say some councils routinely flout the law.
Some London councils pay millions to intermediary companies like Reloc8, a Derbyshire-based firm that specializes in moving homeless families out of the capital. Reloc8 has been paid about £2 million by Croydon and Enfield councils. Sophie Earnshaw, a solicitor at Shelter, said such companies offer a "quick fix" but profit from the housing crisis at the expense of struggling families.
Data and Statistics
The total number of homeless families moved across England is unknown, as several London councils do not keep a central tally. Official figures show the number moved out of London doubled from 670 in the year to March 2023 to 1,300 in the year to March 2025, though the true figure is believed to be higher. London Councils, representing the capital's 32 boroughs, said most out-of-London placements are to bordering counties.
Case Studies
The Guardian reported on a domestic abuse victim placed 200 miles from London, surrounded by drunk and aggressive men, who eventually ran away. Another case involved a Muslim woman sent to a predominantly white village in the north-east, where the nearest mosque was 1.5 hours away by bus. Charities say councils often ignore cultural and religious needs.
Bo Bottomley of Refuge said the increase in unsuitable housing offers forces survivors to stay in refuges longer, creating a cycle that prevents others from accessing emergency accommodation.
