A Labour-run London council left over 100 families homeless last year after they refused to be relocated outside Enfield, sparking criticism from housing activists.
According to Freedom of Information data, local authorities across England ended legal duties to 615 households in 2024 due to refusals of housing offers outside their boroughs. However, the figures reveal that Enfield Council was responsible for 115 cases, accounting for nearly a fifth of the national total—the highest in the country.
Families Forced to Relocate Far from London
Enfield Council has been actively purchasing properties in Liverpool to relocate homeless families, a move that has raised concerns about community displacement.
While councils have a legal duty to support homeless households, they can terminate assistance if families reject a “reasonable” housing offer—which must be affordable but does not necessarily need to be in the same borough.
Due to London’s housing affordability crisis, councils have increasingly been moving homeless families to cheaper areas across the country.
High Refusal Rates Amid Controversial Housing Policies
A 2023 report by Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL) found that 94% of Enfield’s housing offers were outside the capital, with 59% directed toward the North East. As a result, three-quarters of families refused, giving Enfield the highest refusal rate among London councils.
Housing activist Paul Kershaw condemned the practice, calling it “outrageous” and arguing that families are being forcibly removed from their social connections.
Former Enfield councillor Charith Gunawardena, who defected from Labour to the Greens over dissatisfaction with the council’s housing policies, added:
“Families with children are being uprooted from their communities and sent to areas where they have no support networks.”
Council Takes Hardline Approach Amid Rising Homelessness Costs
The cost of temporary accommodation has severely impacted Enfield’s finances, leading to stricter policies.
At a council meeting in September 2023, housing improvement director Duane Dyer announced a hardline approach to enforcing housing policies.
“We are going to enforce our policy hardline. We haven’t been as strict as we should have been,” Dyer stated.
Matt Burn of Better Homes Enfield expressed concern over the council’s stance, saying:
“I was horrified that they thought they weren’t already being hard enough on desperate families.”
Lack of Social Housing Deepens the Crisis
Enfield’s housing crisis has been exacerbated by a shortage of social housing, partly due to an influx of homeless families relocated from wealthier London boroughs.
Meanwhile, Enfield’s Meridian Water regeneration scheme initially planned no social housing in its first two phases. The council now says that affordable housing has been added to the project.
Enfield Council Defends Its Housing Strategy
In response to criticism, an Enfield Council spokesperson stated:
“To provide long-term stable homes, we have made the difficult but necessary decision—like other London councils—to consider buying homes in more affordable areas.”
The council emphasized its focus on building new housing and said it will continue working with the government to address local needs.
