HMOs could be used to help rising homeless numbers

Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) could be used by Liverpool City Council as part of its strategy to tackle homelessness.

Facing "unprecedented demand" on housing services, the local authority said it was reviewing its approach to reducing rough sleeping and homelessness in the city.

The council said it was looking to use a range of temporary accommodation services, including the use of HMOs, studio flats and other properties.

A report prepared for the council's cabinet said increased levels of rough sleeping were partly due to more no-fault evictions and rising rents.

The average number of people living on Liverpool's streets between April and September 2024 was 30, an increase on the 22 typically recorded during the same period in 2023, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

New figures released by the city council have revealed how, in one month this year, 166 people were seen by the Liverpool Assertive Outreach and Response Service to be "engaging in a street lifestyle".

Additionally, there were 1,635 households living in temporary accommodation as of 1 June.

The report said: "There has been unprecedented demand on the council's housing solutions service in recent years and an increase in homeless presentations, with the service receiving an increase in requests for help and assistance from those at risk of homelessness.

"This is due, in part, to an increase in no-fault evictions, family and friends no longer being able to accommodate and affordability concerns as rents increase."

It said the city council would not hold any leases, tenancies or licences of the properties.

Instead, the local authority would "procure a service providing a minimum number of properties" from a property provider.

The property provider would deliver all property and tenancy-related functions, "with the opportunity to bring more properties on board as required".

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