Local councils in affordable homes battle

21st February 2014

Private landlords are benefiting from a shortage of affordable homes in London that is forcing councils into a “dogfight” for low-rent housing.

Karen Alcock, property and housing cabinet member for Hackney Council, told the London Assembly's housing committee that local authorities were “gazumping” each other in a desperate hunt for temporary housing. Dudley Mead, housing cabinet member for Croydon Council, added: “We've had to chase other boroughs out plenty as they were trying to buy up accommodation we wanted for temporary accommodation. I had a dogfight with Westminster over a block of flats but we won.”

Independent I (17/02/2014)