Lewisham reports 51% of homeless households in borough-run temporary housing, with others spread across 48 local authorities
Temporary Accommodation for Homeless Households in Lewisham
Just over half of Lewisham’s homeless households are currently in temporary accommodation within the borough, according to the latest figures.
| Date | Households in Temporary Accommodation | Percentage in Borough | Percentage Outside London |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2025 | 2,450 | 51% | 7% |
As of December 1, 2025, the council provided temporary accommodation to 2,450 households. This is a slight decrease from 2,799 households the previous year.
Of the 2,450 households, 51 percent were in temporary accommodation within the borough. Seven percent of Lewisham’s homeless households were in temporary accommodation outside of London.
These households are currently in temporary accommodation across 48 local authorities.
The figures are part of a new council report. This report will be presented to Lewisham Council’s Housing Select Committee on January 14.
Comparative Data on Homeless Households
Croydon has the second largest number of homeless households in temporary accommodation at 11 percent. Neighbouring borough Greenwich has 7 percent, followed by Bromley with 5 percent. Nineteen percent of these households are in temporary accommodation across London’s remaining boroughs.
Among the 2,450 households, 1,071 are in nightly-paid accommodation, which includes bed and breakfasts. This is the most expensive form of temporary accommodation.
Additionally, 702 households are in council-owned properties used as temporary accommodation. Another 192 households are in private sector leased properties managed by the council. The remaining 485 households are in privately managed accommodation, which private landlords rent out to the council.
Increased Demand for Temporary Accommodation
The council noted that demand for temporary accommodation has increased. This is due to newly accepted homeless households and those forced to leave existing temporary accommodation because it became unsuitable or landlords decided to sell properties or withdraw from the rental market.
The council’s Housing Needs service has implemented measures to prevent homelessness. These include supporting households with emergency funds and advice to reduce financial stress.
These initiatives have contributed to a “notable decrease” in the use of nightly-paid properties compared to December 2024. However, the council acknowledged that the nightly-paid figure remains high.
