FOI request (FOIR-680204169)

Emergency housing

Requested Mon 20 January 2025
Responded Wed 26 February 2025

1. What was the number of households put into emergency accommodation organised by the council in each of the years from 2019 to 2024?

2. How many of these households were given emergency accommodation outside the council area in each of the years from 2019 to 2024?

3. What was the average length of time spent in emergency accommodation in each of the years from 2019 to 2024?

4. What are your minimum property requirements needed to provide temporary accommodation and emergency housing services to the council?

5. The minimum, maximum, and average rates paid to independent providers / home providers for the delivery of temporary accommodation and emergency housing in the borough?

6. How many temporary accommodation and emergency housing companies / landlords are operating in the borough of Hastings?

7. As a new service, who do we contact about supporting the council with temporary housing and emergency housing in the borough?

8. What type of temporary accommodation services and emergency housing are you looking for?

9. Do we need to apply for a local authority contract in order to supply temporary accommodation and emergency housing services? If so, where do we apply?

10. What are the contact details for the department that handles temporary accommodation and emergency accommodation?

Response

1. What was the number of households put into emergency accommodation organised by the council in each of the years from 2019 to 2024?

2019 = 312

2020 = 386

2021 = 457

2022 = 518

2023 = 462

2024 = 451

2. How many of these households were given emergency accommodation outside the council area in each of the years from 2019 to 2024?

2019 = 132

2020 = 93

2021 = 83

2022 = 134

2023 = 97

2024 = 46

3. What was the average length of time spent in emergency accommodation in each of the years from 2019 to 2024?

2019 = 168 days

2020 = 209 days

2021 = 242 days

2022 = 242 days

2023 = 370 days

2024 = 374 days

4. What are your minimum property requirements needed to provide temporary accommodation and emergency housing services to the council?

HMO properties need to meet HMO licensing legislation, self-contained units need to be compliant with fire safety regulations and all properties must meet all legislation alongside evidence of up to date gas, EPC, and electrical certificates.

5. The minimum, maximum, and average rates paid to independent providers / home providers for the delivery of temporary accommodation and emergency housing in the borough?

REFUSED

NOTICE OF REFUSAL

The information you have requested in terms of average rates paid is commercially sensitive and falls under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act - Commercially Sensitive Information< - Information prejudicing commercial interests - commercial interest relating to an organisations commercial activity and may include trading activity procurement and relationships with third parties.

The exemption afforded by Section 43 is subject to what is known as the 'public interest test'. When applying the test in a particular case a public authority is deciding whether the public interest is better served by non-disclosure than by disclosure.

Although the Freedom of Information Act does not define 'in the public interest', there is a presumption under Freedom of Information that openness is in the public interest. In applying the public interest test a public authority will take into account the distinction that has been often made by courts between things that are in the public interest, and things that merely interest the public. Where applicants have not identified public interest considerations succinctly or accurately, the public authority has a responsibility under the Act to make their own assessment of the public interest considerations in the particular case.

We have identified the following public interest factors that may be seen as encouraging the disclosure of information:

a) accountability of public spending.

We consider these factors to be of limited relevance in relation to the information in question.

Public interest factors seen as encouraging non-disclosure are, generally, the exemptions themselves. In consideration of this matter we came to the following conclusions:

a) ensuring that companies are able to compete for business fairly.

b) damage to reputation and/or financial interests.

In weighing the factors for and against disclosure we have concluded that the likely benefit to the applicant and the wider public of disclosure is outweighed by the likely prejudice caused by such disclosure and that therefore the public interest is better served by non-disclosure.

For the reasons given above, we will not be communicating to you the information you have requested.

6. How many temporary accommodation and emergency housing companies / landlords are operating in the borough of Hastings?

Hastings Borough Council uses 20/30 companies/landlords for temporary accommodation, dependant on needs. However, there may be more companies/landlords who offer temporary accommodation that are used by other services, statutory services, and other councils who may place in the borough.

7. As a new service, who do we contact about supporting the council with temporary housing and emergency housing in the borough?

TemporaryAccommodation@hastings.gov.uk

8. What type of temporary accommodation services and emergency housing are you looking for?

Our aim is to increase our own housing stock to meet the temporary accommodation needs of service.

9. Do we need to apply for a local authority contract in order to supply temporary accommodation and emergency housing services? If so, where do we apply?

The council books temporary accommodation on a night-by-night basis dependent on the needs of the service.

10. What are the contact details for the department that handles temporary accommodation and emergency accommodation?

TemporaryAccommodation@hastings.gov.uk