National statistics

Statutory homelessness in England: 2022-23 infographic

Updated 6 November 2023

Applies to England

This page provides a quick visual summary of key findings from the annual statistics release for statutory homelessness assessments and activities in England covering the period between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

1. Overall

Figure 1: Trends in prevention, relief and temporary accommodation since 2019 Q2

140,790 households were owed a prevention duty in 2022-23, up 4.8% from 2021-22. Of which there was:

• 7.9% increase in households with children owed a prevention duty to 61,120 households

• 2.7% increase in single households owed a prevention duty to 79,660 households

157,640 households were owed a relief duty in 2022-23, up 8.6% from 2021-22. Of which there was:

• 16.7% increase in households with children owed a relief duty to 43,340 households

• 5.8% increase in single households owed a relief duty to 114,290 households

On 31 March 2023, 104,510 households were in temporary accommodation, an increase of 10.0% from 31 March 2022.

2. Households with children

61,120 households with children were owed a prevention duty in 2022-23, up 7.9% from 2021-22.

43,340 households with children were owed a relief duty in 2022-23, up 16.7% from 2021-22.

40.3% of households with children owed a prevention or relief duty in 2022-23 had at least one support need, a similar proportion to 2021-22.

Figure 2: Proportion of households with children owed a prevention or relief duty, by reason for loss of last settled home

For those owed a prevention duty, the most common cause was due to the end of their private rented assured shorthold tenancy (AST) at 31,320 households, an increase of over 20.0% from 2021-22.

For those owed a relief duty, the most common cause was due to domestic abuse at 12,000, up 5.4% from 2021-22.

Figure 3 : Proportion of households with children whose duty ended by outcome

58,040 prevention duties ended for households with children in 2022-23.

49.9% of households with children whose prevention duty ended secured accommodation for 6 months or more and were no longer threatened with homelessness, this is lower than 54.6% in 2021-22.

58,570 relief duties ended for households with children in 2022-23.

59.2% of households with children had their relief duty end because their homelessness had not been relieved within 56 days and at this point the local authority would need to assess whether a main duty is owed to them.

Figure 4: Proportion of households with children who secured accommodation by type

Of the households with children whose prevention duty ended and were able to secure accommodation, the most common accommodation secured was self-contained accommodation in the private rented sector (47.5%).

 For those whose relief duty ended with secured accommodation, the most common accommodation secured was either self-contained accommodation in the private rented sector (30.8%) or a registered provider tenancy in the social rented sector (30.8%).

3. Single households

79,660 single households were owed a prevention duty in 2022-23, up 2.7% from 2021-22.

114,290 single households were owed a relief duty in 2022-23, up 5.8% from 2021-22

59.5% of single households had at least one support need, compared with 57.8% in 2021-22.

Figure 5: Proportion of single households owed a prevention or relief duty, by reason for loss of last settled home

The most common reason for loss of last settled home for single households was family or friends no longer able to accommodate.

This accounted for 24,200 households or 30.4% of single households owed a prevention duty, up 1.9% from 2021-22.

For single households owed a relief duty, this accounted for 38,840 households or 34.0%, an increase of 9.5% from 2021-22

Figure 6: Proportion of single households whose duty ended by outcome

72,730 prevention duties ended for single households in 2022-23.

54.9% of single households whose prevention duty ended secured accommodation for 6 months or more.

116,710 relief duties ended for single households in 2022-23.

39.9% of single households whose relief duty ended secured accommodation for 6 months or more.

Figure 7: Proportion of single households who secured accommodation by type

For single households whose prevention duty ended in accommodation secured, the most common type secured was self-contained accommodation in the private rented sector at 25.7%.

For single households whose relief duty ended in accommodation secured, the most common type was in supported housing or hostel accommodation at 36.5%

4. Other demographics

Ethnicity

During 2022-23 67.2% of homeless households had a White lead applicant. Compared to England population estimates White households seem to be underrepresented in the those owed a homelessness duty. Households with an Asian/Asian British lead applicant are also underrepresented as they account for 6.4% of those owed a homelessness duty. Conversely, households with a Black, Black British, Caribbean or African lead applicant are most likely to be overrepresented as they account for 10.2% of those owed a homelessness duty.

Figure 9: Age of lead applicant

In 2022-23, the most common age group of lead applicants was those aged between 25 to 34 years old, making up 29.7% households owed a prevention or relief duty.

Figure 10: Employment status of lead applicant

The most common employment status for lead applicants of households owed a prevention or relief duty was registered unemployed, accounting for 33.9% of households in 2022-23.

5. Main duty

Figure 11: Number of households assessed against a main duty decision, by outcome

Local authorities made 74,290 main homelessness duty decisions in 2022-23, up 18.9% from 2021-22.

Of these 71.1% were owed a main homelessness duty, an increase of 3.1 percentage points compared to the proportion of main duties which were accepted in 2021-22.

6. Temporary accommodation

Figure 12: Number of households in temporary accommodation since Q2 2019, by household type

On 31 March 2023, 104,510 households were in temporary accommodation, up 10.0% from the same period last year.

Figure 13: Households in temporary accommodation on 31 March 2023, by ethnicity of lead applicant

Figure 14: Households in temporary accommodation on 31 March 2023, by age of lead applicant

Figure 15: Type of accommodation for households in temporary accommodation on 31 March 2023, by length of stay and household type

The most common length of time for households with children to be in temporary accommodation was for 2 to 5 years accounting for 26.3% of households with children.

The most common length of time for single households to stay in temporary accommodation was less than 6 months, accounting for 37.5% of single households.

7. Things to know about these statistics

• Statutory homelessness concerns duties placed on local authorities to take reasonable steps to prevent and relieve homelessness to eligible houses

• Each case included in this report is representative of a household, which includes households with children as well as single adult houses

• This report only covers those owed a duty between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023

• All figures except for temporary accommodation is a cumulative count over the period of the reported financial year, temporary accommodation is a snapshot of the last day of the year

• Data is collected via the Homelessness Case Level Information Collection, submitted quarterly by local authorities. This method of collection was introduced in 2018 alongside significant homelessness legislation; before this statutory homelessness was recorded in the P1E

• Definitions and a comprehensive breakdown of the quality assurance process can be found in the technical note

8. How these statistics can be used

These statistics can be used to:

• To count the number of homelessness duties accepted by local authorities between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 and to compare local authorities and regions in England

• To assess changes in the number of homelessness duties since 2018

• To understand the causes, circumstances, and characteristics of households owed a duty for between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023

• To understand the number of households and the characteristics of Temporary Accommodation

These statistics cannot be used to:

• To estimate the total number of people sleeping rough

• To estimate the total number of people sofa surfing, those in recreational or organised protest, those in squats, or traveller campsites

• To estimate the households that have yet to make a homelessness application and those who aren’t eligible

• To compare with other countries in the UK

• To compare to figures recorded via the P1E

9. Links to other information

• Full 2022-23 financial year release page

• Statutory homelessness data tables