Homeless People Could Be Moved from Edinburgh in Plan to Licence Temporary Accommodations
Edinburgh Council plans to move homeless people from rooms that lack proper licences before the end of the month. Demand has grown since Covid, and the city’s plan now meets legal and safety checks.
Background on Temporary Accommodation Needs
Since Covid arrived, Edinburgh has seen more homelessness. The Council provided many hotel and bed and breakfast rooms to house people. This step aimed to protect those in need, yet some rooms do not have the licence they must under UK law. Any property that houses several tenants must hold an HMO licence to meet safety rules.
Today, nearly 650 homeless people live in spaces that miss proper licences. With a deadline on November 30th, officials plan that about 10% of these people might need to be moved to other areas near Edinburgh.
The Council’s Response
Derek McGowan heads housing services for the Council. He says there are roughly 70 extra houses in nearby local areas, all within 50 miles. He feels a good plan in Edinburgh can keep everyone safe. "We need to plan for it," McGowan said when talking about the move.
The Council will stop funding providers by early December. This step comes from worries about money and keeping people safe. Paying providers that do not follow safe rules risks both people in need and the Council’s legal stance.
Previous Measures and Future Strategies
These housing moves were set in motion during the first Covid lockdown in 2020. Then, any housing was seen as vital. Since that time, landlords were asked to follow mobile licensing rules, yet 30 landlords have not met these requirements.
Along with stopping support for unsafe rooms, the Council has paused applications for social housing. The city site "EdIndex," where homeless people bid for council homes, is on hold too because demand is high. Even council home repairs not seen as urgent have been paused so the work can ready empty houses for use.
Recent reports show about 174 council homes have been fixed in recent weeks. Another 120 spaces may open if HMO licence applications pass. The Council is also studying a strategy that many say is private to deal with unlicensed housing.
Conclusion
Edinburgh’s plan for homeless housing shows a mix of fast thinking and the need to follow rules. The Council works to move homeless people into safe, licensed houses, yet many still live in unlicensed spaces. The pressing issue is whether the plans will meet the growing need. As homelessness stays a problem, those in charge of housing policy must stay alert and ready to act to keep residents safe.
For further reading, check out the latest news from BBC Scotland and other reliable sources about housing and homelessness.
Disclaimer: This article has been generated by AI based on the latest news from Google News sources. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying key details from official reports.
