The Ealing Council Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panel met to discuss temporary accommodation in the borough, and to review the minutes of their previous meeting. The panel agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2025 and noted a report on temporary accommodation in Ealing.

Temporary Accommodation in Ealing

The panel considered a report providing an update on temporary accommodation in Ealing, including the current context, property acquisition strategy, use of bed and breakfast accommodation, cost management and allocations.

The report noted that homelessness in Ealing has increased significantly, placing additional pressure on the Housing Demand service. This has led to an increase in demand for temporary accommodation.

Key statistics highlighted in the report included:

• A total of 3,050 households in temporary accommodation, compared to 3,013 in the previous year.
• 2,281 households with children in temporary accommodation, up from 2,172.
• 4,436 children in temporary accommodation, an increase of 228.
• A reduction in the number of households in bed and breakfast accommodation, from 691 to 508.
• Average monthly rent in Ealing (June 2025): £2,035, an annual growth of 12.4%.
• Approximately 1,323 active Airbnb listings in Ealing, which reduces the number of properties available for long-term rental.

The report outlined a new property acquisitions strategy designed to manage demand and control costs. The strategy focuses on:

• Robust assessment by the Housing Demand service to ensure that households are assessed in line with the statutory framework.
• Acquiring suitable temporary accommodation properties to reduce the overall cost, by moving away from expensive nightly spot purchased and leased accommodation.
• Finding permanent affordable accommodation for homeless households, either in the private rented sector or social housing sector.
• Identifying tenants within its own stock who are under-occupying their accommodation to encourage downsizing.

The strategy aims to move more households out of temporary accommodation than enter it.

The report also addressed the council's reliance on bed and breakfast accommodation, noting that Ealing is the second highest user in the country. As of 20 August 2025, there were 116 families in non-compliant B&B, of which 105 were greater than 6 weeks. A step-down programme has been implemented to move households with dependent children out of non-compliant bed and breakfast accommodation into alternative temporary accommodation or settled, permanent accommodation.

The increase in demand for temporary accommodation has significantly impacted the council's budgets. The Housing Demand service overspent by £4.376 million in 2023/24 and £15.150 million in 2024/25. In 2025/26, the service is predicted to overspend by £4.2 million.

To manage costs, the service has developed a range of mitigations, including:

• Use of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) general needs and sheltered voids.
• Effective management of temporary accommodation properties.
• Bringing back into use properties earmarked for regeneration.
• Stepping down from more expensive temporary accommodation properties.
• Permanent resettlement.
• Developing a property pipeline.

The report also provided information on how council properties are allocated through Ealing's Allocations Policy. Applicants are prioritised using a three-tier banding system, which considers factors such as statutory homelessness, medical and welfare needs, and overcrowding.

Waiting times for council properties are considerable, with an average of 507 days for a one-bedroom property, 1,044 days for a two-bedroom property, and 2,433 days for a four-bedroom property.

As of 31 March 2025, there were 7,813 households on the housing register, with 2,152 of those considered homeless.

The panel was asked to note the report.

Transport and Highways

The minutes from the previous meeting on 26 June 2025 record that the panel received updates on bus connectivity in the borough, the Transport Strategy and the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy.

Bus Connectivity

The panel heard that Transport for London (TfL) was carrying out public consultations on proposed changes to bus routes in the borough, including changes to route 224, the creation of a new night bus route between Ruislip Station and Trafalgar Square, the introduction of a Super Loop 13 express service between Ealing Broadway and Hendon, the withdrawal of route 283 and rerouting of the 72 via the White City Estate with increased frequency, and the extension of route 95 into the Green Quarter.

The Bus Action Plan, running up to 2030, sets out the strategic vision for London's buses, focusing on improving the customer experience, safety and security, faster journeys, improved connections and decarbonisation and climate resilience.

The panel resolved that:

• The dates of TfL's consultations on local bus routes should be clearly shared, and that communication around these consultations should be improved to ensure Ealing residents are better informed and able to engage meaningfully.
• A dedicated email address should be provided for residents to report concerns about bus drivers not facilitating access for elderly and/or disabled passengers.
• Ealing's Highways Team should work in conjunction with TfL to ensure that there are no physical obstructions near bus stops that would prevent bus drivers from safely and effectively pulling up close to the kerb, thereby supporting accessible boarding for all passengers.
• All residents should have equitable access to public transport, and that public transport planning should ensure that accessibility is not compromised by the surrounding environment.

Transport Strategy

The panel heard that the Transport Strategy, which had previously covered a three-year period, would be aligned with the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy, which extended to 2041. From January to March 2025, a programme of events and a survey were conducted to engage with residents and understand how they moved around the borough, which transport modes they used, and how they could be supported to walk and cycle more.

The goal was to make the Transport Strategy accessible and engaging, ensuring that active and sustainable modes of travel felt like the natural choice for everyday short journeys of less than a mile.

The panel resolved that the draft transport strategy, when available, should be considered by either the Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panel or the Overview and Scrutiny to ensure appropriate scrutiny.

Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy

The panel heard that the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy had gone out to public consultation late the previous year. The broad aim of the strategy was to ensure that all residents had access to convenient and affordable changing at a range of speeds by 2030. In response to feedback, Ealing was exploring options for a trial of gullies, a channel across the pavement allowing a cable to connect a home charger to a vehicle.

The previous target of installing 2,000 chargers in the borough by March 2026 had been revised to 1,400.