Government vows to end unlawful placement of families in B&Bs beyond six-week limit

The government has pledged to end the unlawful use of bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) as temporary accommodation beyond the six-week limit as part of its new strategy to address child poverty.

Following last week’s budget announcement in which chancellor Rachel Reeves scrapped the two-child benefit cap, the government has published a set of measures aimed at lifting 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030. These include increased funding for homelessness support and local services.

To assist in minimising the use of temporary accommodation, the government will invest £8m in emergency accommodation reduction pilots in 20 local authorities with the highest use of B&Bs for homeless families over a three-year period.

It will also provide £950m through the fourth and largest round of the local authority housing fund from April 2026 to deliver up to 5,000 new homes for better temporary accommodation by 2030. Further details will be set out in the upcoming homelessness strategy.

A new legal duty will also require councils to notify schools, health visitors, and GPs when a child is placed in temporary accommodation to enable health and education providers to deliver a more joined up approach to support children experiencing homelessness.

The government will also work with the NHS to end the practice of mothers with newborns being discharged to B&Bs or other forms of unsuitable housing.

Alongside a focus on tackling homelessness, the strategy aims to make childcare more accessible for working parents on universal credit, increase the affordability of infant formula products and reduce energy bills for poorer families.

Kate Still, chief customer officer at Clarion Housing Group, said: “Removing obstacles to job progression, supporting parents with childcare and reducing the time families spend in unsuitable accommodation are all critical, and we welcome today’s strategy which begins to tackle these challenges.

“With more than 164,000 children living in temporary accommodation across England, ensuring every family has a safe, secure roof over their head is one of the most important steps in giving children the best start in life, and we look forward to working with ministers to ensure today’s commitments deliver lasting change for families.”

According to government statistics, 4.5 million children (around 31%) are living in relative poverty after housing costs. This is 900,000 more since 2010/11.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Every child deserves the best possible start in life, with their future no longer determined by the circumstances of their birth. Yet too many children are growing up in poverty, held back from getting on in life, and too many families are struggling without the basics: a secure home, warm meals, and the support they need to make ends meet.

“I will not stand by and watch that happen, because the cost of doing nothing is too high for children, for families, and for Britain.

“This is a moral mission for me. It’s about fairness, opportunity, and unlocking potential. Our strategy isn’t just about reversing the failures of the past, it sets a new course for national renewal, with children’s life chances at its heart.”