Up to £10 million could be spent providing more emergency accommodation

Torbay Council will tonight vote on buying up homes

Torquay Town Hall, Torbay Council's HQ
Author: Andrew KayPublished 10th May 2022
Last updated 10th May 2022

As the numbers needing emergency accommodation in Torbay keep growing, the council will tonight vote on buying 37 properties for people to use.

A few years ago up to 100 people a night were being helped, last week it was 163 - with some having to go into hotels.

With more people moving to the area as a result of greater working-from-home freedoms following the pandemic - or using their homes as holiday lets through services such as Airbandb - there's fewer properties for the council to use.

Tonight's vote could see up to £10 million borrowed by the council to pay and renovate the properties

Councillor Swithin Long says some people are struggling because their landlord has decided to sell the property - or use it for a different purpose - and the people have struggled to find an alternative home at the same cost.

To read the report in full, called Temporary Accommodation Sufficiency Implementation, click here

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