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The government is planning to crackdown on the “serious problem” of London councils sending residents to live in Kent and other parts of England.
Nearly 15,000 homeless households were moved out of the capital between 2019 and 2025, with Kent receiving more than anywhere else – with 5,010 households relocated here over the six-year period.
The scale of the issue has prompted ministers to review the practice, with Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern describing it as a “real worry” and saying the government was prepared to “clamp down on the worst form of it.”
Faversham and Mid Kent MP Helen Whately welcomed reports that ministers were considering tighter restrictions.
She said: “It looks like the government is going to stop London councils offloading problem social housing tenants into Kent and other Home Counties. This is a serious problem that’s got steadily worse.”
The Conservative MP added: “London boroughs offloading their social tenants into Kent and the other Home Counties is a serious dereliction of duty.
“Over the years, hundreds of households have been relocated into flats in Maidstone town centre as well as rural villages like Lenham – inevitably putting extra pressure on our schools and health care.
“People have been raising this with me for some time and in turn I have raised it with ministers again and again – only to be told there really is not much that can be done to stop London boroughs from buying up properties on the open market.
“I am pleased to read the Homelessness Minister is prepared to ‘clamp down on the worst form of it’. I will keep pressing the government to do something about this.”
London boroughs have the power to place homeless residents in temporary accommodation outside their own areas when suitable housing cannot be found locally.
In 2023, KentOnline revealed that a private housing association was planning to move more than 80 families from London into an 11-storey former office block in the Medway Towns.
Proposals were in place for tenants to move into Anchorage House, in Chatham High Street, which had previously been earmarked as a potential home for asylum seekers.
Theori Housing Management Services, based in the East End of the capital, speciaIised in working with local authorities in London to provide accommodation for homeless people.
The company said the building, which used to be home to Medway County and Family Court, was fully refurbished “to the highest standards” and all 81 units were self-contained family homes.
Councils have a legal duty to house vulnerable homeless people, including families with children and victims of domestic abuse.
While guidance states that accommodation should normally be provided close to where applicants live, authorities can make so-called “out-of-borough placements” elsewhere.
Critics argue the practice has become increasingly common as London’s housing crisis deepens.
Official guidance states that out-of-area placements should “never be determined on the basis of cost alone”, but Ms McGovern said ministers were considering introducing further restrictions.
She added: “Something is clearly not working here.”
Kent has borne the brunt of London’s outward placements. Since 2019, the county has received 5,010 homeless households from the capital, significantly more than Essex, which received 3,030. Hertfordshire received 1,673, Berkshire 1,191, Surrey 1,148 and Buckinghamshire 1,066.
Concerns have been raised both by receiving communities and by charities supporting homeless households.
Critics say vulnerable people can be uprooted from support networks, schools, GPs and other essential services when they are moved long distances from their home areas.
Communities and councils receiving the placements have also argued they lack the resources to absorb large numbers of arrivals.
Maidstone and Malling MP Helen Grant (Con) has been approached for comment.
