Since May, Waltham Forest Council offered 212 at-risk households – which includes adults living alone and families – housing beyond the borough due to a shortage of homes locally, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 200 households facing homelessness have been offered accommodation outside Waltham Forest since May, new council figures show.
Waltham Forest Council offered 212 at-risk households – which includes adults living alone and families – housing beyond the borough due to a shortage of homes locally.
Just 38 were given the chance to stay in the borough.
A council report from April revealed that 47% of such residents were living outside Waltham Forest, down from a peak of 65% in October 2024.
Councillor Eva Tabbasam, the cabinet member for housing, said this was due to “severe pressures” in the borough’s housing sector.
She said: “The administration is committed to reducing the need for homeless households, particularly families with children, to be placed outside the borough.
“However, severe pressures within the local housing market continue to limit the availability of suitable and affordable accommodation in Waltham Forest.
“Less than 1% of private rented homes advertised locally are generally affordable to households who are reliant on benefits or working fewer than 16 hours per week.
“As a result, the council must often secure accommodation beyond borough boundaries to meet its statutory homelessness duties.”
Of the 38 families and singles offered housing in Waltham Forest between May and September 2026, just two declined.
The vast majority of homes were classed as ‘zone-B,’ which extends to Greater London and the Home Counties.
Nineteen singles accepted the relocation, while ten refused. The majority of the 154 family households took up their offers, with 34 declining.
A further 29 families were offered ‘zone-C’ housing, described as “everywhere else” – 14 accepted and 15 refused.
Labour councillor Andrew Dixon said at a full council meeting last week that the Greens had made a manifesto commitment to house residents in the borough “wherever possible”.
He asked whether the council accepted that most residents declined to zone-C housing was due to the distance from the capital.
Cllr Tabbasam said: “We still, in principle, rely on our manifesto commitment to reduce placements outside the borough.
“Ourselves, along with the five Green administrations in London, wrote to the prime minister to think about increasing the local housing allowance so that we can be able to afford the private market rent for family-sized homes in the borough.”
She said the market rent was “simply unaffordable for us”.
The housing member said in September that “too many residents are still living in temporary accommodation, too many tenants are dissatisfied with aspects of our landlord service,” and there were “still far too many homes that do not meet the standards our residents deserve”.
Local news needs your support
We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
ACT NOW!
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or annually
More Information about donations
