Ashfield District Council calls for Government housing reform

Ashfield District Council is calling for urgent action to support struggling families as more risk becoming homeless.

The Council’s Full Council has agreed to call on the Government to urgently reform Local Housing Allowance to ensure it reflects local market rents. This will allow households to access and sustain suitable accommodation.

It comes as the Council has seen an increase in people at risk of becoming homeless, including those at risk of eviction, families not in secure rented homes and those with complex support needs.

At the same time the cost and availability of temporary accommodation is placing growing pressure on Council revenue budgets. Local arrangements in Ashfield mean this is currently under control, but further increased demand for temporary accommodation will put this at risk.

The authority is pressing for further funding and policy changes to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation, including investment in genuinely affordable housing and improved security in the private rented sector.

Councillors agreed to write formally to the Secretary of State to outline the impact of current national housing policies on Ashfield residents and the Council’s ability to meet its statutory duties.

Cllr Tom Hollis, the Council’s Executive Lead for Strategic Housing and Climate Change, said:

“Ashfield District Council is committed to preventing homelessness and protecting our vulnerable residents and we have a range of ways to do that.

“However, the Local Housing Allowance needs to support us in doing this as without urgent action to align housing support with real costs and to properly fund local authorities, Councils like Ashfield will continue to manage an escalating crisis with insufficient tools.

“We have seen a sustained increase in people needing our support, some at very real risk of becoming homeless, as the cost of living continues to rise. The Government needs to react to this and support Councils as well as addressing the root cause.”

Posted on 06 February 2026