New figures reveal that Lambeth Council ended housing support for 187 homeless families last year after offering them accommodation with private landlords—leaving many with a stark choice: accept the property or face life on the streets.

The data, obtained via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, shows a staggering eight-fold increase since 2022 in the number of households the council discharged its main housing duty to after making a Private Rented Sector (PRS) offer.

• 2022: 9 households

• 2023: 23 households

• 2024: 187 households

None of these placements were outside Lambeth, but critics say the trend is deeply troubling.

Campaigners Warn of a “Cycle of Homelessness”

Housing campaigners have long criticised Private Sector Discharges, which allow councils to legally end their duty to homeless families by offering them accommodation in the private rental market—even if only for a short period.

Eviction from private homes remains one of the leading causes of homelessness, according to charity Shelter. Campaigners argue that families pushed into short-term, insecure private lets are at constant risk of eviction, especially under Section 21 rules which currently allow landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason.

However, that could soon change: the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill, expected to become law this summer, includes a ban on no-fault evictions, potentially altering how councils approach housing support.

Council vs. Market Rents: A Stark Divide

The affordability gap is clear. As of March 2025:

•  Average private rent for a 2-bed flat in Lambeth: £2,191 per month

•  Maximum council rent for a 2-bed: £796.36 per month

With such a divide, families moved into private homes are often left vulnerable to rising rents and insecure tenancies—conditions that increase the likelihood of repeat homelessness.

Cutting the Queue or Cutting Corners?

Campaign group Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL) argues that some councils are using PRS discharges as a loophole to shorten housing waiting lists, rather than providing long-term stability.

Their research shows:

•  Over 2,000 families had support ended via PRS offers in 2023 across London

•  That’s a 159% increase since 2017

•  One in five families refused their PRS offer, but legal rules allow councils to evict them from temporary housing if they do

Once a family accepts a PRS offer, their legal homelessness status ends—along with any priority for social housing.

What’s Next?

As the Renters’ Rights Bill edges closer to becoming law, housing campaigners and local authorities alike will be watching closely to see how its provisions reshape homelessness support and landlord-tenant dynamics.

But for the 187 Lambeth families who faced impossible choices last year, the tension between statutory duty and private sector pragmatism is all too real.