The number of households living in temporary accommodation has risen 55 per cent in a single year in one Hertfordshire borough.

Welwyn Hatfield Council had records of 146 families or individuals staying in short-term accommodation between April and June this year.

During the same period in 2021, 94 households lived in temporary housing, and the council set a target of 100 households for 2022.

A report to accompany a council meeting on housing next week (Monday, October 24) describes the 146 households figure as a “large increase” on previous years.

A cross-party panel is set to discuss the figures in greater detail next week, but Councillor Fiona Thomson, the authority’s executive member for housing, said the council is determined to meet the needs of people facing homelessness.

Cllr Thomson said: “While the provision of temporary accommodation for those in need is a priority for the council, so is our determination to meet the increasing demand for affordable homes through our affordable housing programme.

“Our private housing team is working more closely with landlords and letting agents to secure properties for those in need of alternative accommodation, reducing the number of people in temporary homes.

“A handful of agents are already working with us, and we are looking to increase that number.

“One of the other benefits of developing that relationship is that partner agents can contact us at an early stage, and we can find solutions to maintain tenancies.”

The council confirmed it has received £491,055 in an annual homelessness prevention grant from the central government in 2022.

The meeting report additionally notes three rough sleepers were counted in the borough at the end of June 2022.

According to the notes, they refused offers of accommodation and were referred to a partnership called ReStart, which aims to bring in project workers who can help them better engage with support services.

Welwyn Hatfield Council received 493 Housing Needs Register applications in quarter one of the 2022/23 financial year, which the report notes is “reasonably high”.

Of these, 91.9 per cent were processed within 35 days, against a council target of 95 per cent.

Officers cited staff sickness and a vacancy as being the causes of this missed target.

Cllr Thomson said the private housing team is working to improve conditions for tenants.

She said: “The private housing team has successfully secured several high-profile prosecutions against rogue landlords which has taken them away from their usual caseload, as well as carrying out essential Ukraine housing inspections which have not been counted in the official figures (28 for this quarter, 86 overall).

“For anyone looking for help, the best advice we can give is to get in touch as quickly as possible if you are homeless or even threatened with homelessness.

“This can be done on our website (www.welhat.gov.uk) or by calling 01707 357613.”