Independent review recognises progress in Spelthorne's homelessness services

02 July 2026

Spelthorne Borough Council has welcomed the findings of an independent review of its homelessness service, commissioned from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), as it continues to drive improvements in housing support.

The review was requested by the Council as part of its commitment to addressing housing need, one of the Council’s key priorities. The review examined homelessness service performance through analysis of statutory data, casework reviews, staff interviews and consultation with councillors, senior officers and key partner organisations.

The MHCLG review highlighted both areas of good practice and opportunities for further improvement as the Council continues its improvement and recovery programme.

In response to rising temporary accommodation costs, the Council has already implemented a range of measures to reduce the use of nightly-paid accommodation. These include improving move-on arrangements from temporary accommodation, recruiting additional housing staff, strengthening partnership working with housing providers, reviewing private rented sector initiatives and purchasing properties for use as temporary and social housing.

These actions are already delivering results. The number of households placed in nightly-paid accommodation has fallen from 109 in January 2026 to 81 in May 2026, representing a reduction of more than 25 per cent in five months.

The Council is forecasting significant savings through the reduction of nightly-paid accommodation use, while improving outcomes for residents facing homelessness.

Chair of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee, Cllr Susan Doran, said: "We commissioned this review to gain an independent assessment of our homelessness service and identify where we can improve. The findings confirm that we are making positive progress and while there is more work to do, we are committed to implementing the recommendations and improving outcomes for residents facing homelessness."

The Council will now continue to implement its improvement programme, focusing on strengthening performance management, reviewing casework practices, increasing engagement with the private rented sector and exploring further opportunities to reduce temporary accommodation costs while improving housing outcomes.

For more information about the Council's homelessness services, visit Housing & Homelessness | Spelthorne Borough Council | Spelthorne Borough Council