• THERE is a rapid rise, nationally, in “no-fault” evictions of tenants by, mainly, private landlords.

The main cause is, allegedly, landlords wanting to sell their properties. Tenants have a month to find somewhere else to live or go into temporary accommodation.

Information about Camden is hard to find. In February this year there were 573 families in temporary accommodation, 284 of which included children.

In total 491 children were in temporary accommodation. Some of the families will be in hostels and others in hotels.

For those in hotels, the council has a contract with a major hotel chain. This contract involves a family moving every nine days to another hotel in the same chain.

This “practice” compounds the problem of families with school-aged children who may be moved miles from schools. Families are also moved away from their local support networks.

Those employed who do not have children may be sent miles from their places of work. I do not know if hotels outside our borough are used.

Fairly recently Camden Council closed its large hostel in England’s Lane, adding to the problem.

The causes are mainly beyond the council’s control, but the current practice of moving people in hotels every nine days and only using one hotel chain is not. Evictions are likely to have increased since February.

Hotel homeless tenants are but part of the overall homelessness problem in our borough but surely the issues of length of stay and use of only one hotel chain can be changed.

Perhaps the relevant council cabinet member and scrutiny committee can address this problem. If the information I have been able to obtain is incorrect, please say so.

MICK FARRANT
Address supplied, NW5