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The number of homeless people living in temporary accommodation in East Renfrewshire rose by 44 per cent over a year, as councillors heard the area’s proximity to Glasgow has influenced the rise. A slight dip in homeless applications has been recorded but there is still a “significant challenge”, with around 170 households in temporary accommodation — and 39 of those in “unsuitable” B&Bs. Up to 350 households were accepted as homeless and waiting for an offer of accommodation, a report by council officials revealed last week.
The figures had reduced from September 2024, when over 200 households were in temporary accommodation and “around 50 to 60” in B&Bs. However, the numbers in temporary accommodation at “the end of September 2024 had increased by 44 per cent from the same period the year before” — the highest increase in Scotland. The national average was six per cent.
Officials reported a significant rise in applications from households outwith East Renfrewshire since a Scottish Government rule change in November 2022 meant people can apply as homeless to any council in Scotland rather than needing a local connection. They added: “This is important to note as with the removal of local connection, East Renfrewshire’s proximity to Scotland’s largest city will have an impact on the number of homeless applications received.” East Renfrewshire Council declared a housing emergency in September last year due to the significant rise.
Glasgow had declared an emergency in late 2023. READ MORE: Young boy fed PAINT from ceiling after he was forced to go to bed hungry The Scottish housing regulator has said East Renfrewshire is one of several councils across the country facing “systematic failure” of their homelessness services. The biggest issue is the use of “unsuitable” hotels and B&Bs as temporary accommodation, which also puts a “significant strain” on council finances.
Around £545,000 had been budgeted in 2024/25 but the estimated total cost was £2.3m. There isn’t enough social housing to “meet the sustained increase”, the council report stated, causing a “backlog of households in temporary accommodation”.
Efforts to ease the situation have included investing £2m into buying more homes and increasing lets to homeless people for council housing. The report added: “Initial data for 2025/26 is expected to confirm the small decline in homeless application has continued and in recent months a decline in the numbers in temporary accommodation. “However, pressure on temporary accommodation and permanent accommodation still remains a significant challenge.
” From September 2019 to September 2023, the council saw a 53 per cent increase in homeless presentations, compared to a national average of 10 per cent. There was a four per cent decrease in applications in East Renfrewshire between September 2023 and 2024. Cllr Andrew Morrison, Conservative, said the figures were “really quite concerning”, adding: “This isn’t really a crisis of the council’s own making.
” READ MORE: 'I'm at my wit's end': Resident slams council for failing to fix flat water problem He said the situation was “due to removal of local connection” and asked about concerns raised by Glasgow councillors that the “asylum system was placing an undue burden on the housing crisis”. A council official said: “It’s a difficult situation..
. people who are still classified as asylum seekers are not the responsibility of local authorities to house on a temporary or permanent basis. They are the responsibility of the Home Office.
“They are not a local authority obligation until such time as their asylum status has been determined. Once it’s been determined if..
. there is leave to remain, at that point people are able to access homelessness pathways.” The council said the housing emergency had been declared despite the delivery of more than 470 new-build homes since 2018.
Work to address the situation has included doubling the provision of temporary accommodation over the last five years. An empty homes officer has been appointed to target 124 long-term vacant properties and an audit of all council-owned land is being carried out to consider development opportunities. Council leader Owen O’Donnell, Labour, said: “There is an ongoing challenge and this isn’t going to go away any time soon.
It is clear that the council is focused on this, this administration is focused on this and will remain so.” Housing convener Danny Devlin, an independent councillor, added: “While there has been a small reduction in homelessness and use of temporary accommodation, we continue to face a local housing emergency.” He is pleased with the “positive actions” taken by the council’s housing service to maximise new supply, improve preventions and boost the supply of temporary accommodation.
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