Council set to use flats for homeless accommodation

The council said demand for temporary accommodation was "acute"

Two flats above a library are set to be used as temporary accommodation for homeless people, a council has decided.

The two flats above the Stoneleigh Community Library in Epsom have been earmarked for use by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council (EEBC).

The council's strategy and resources committee met last week to discuss an underlease of the building from Surrey County Council.

Demand for temporary accommodation is "acute", EEBC has said.

It has predicted an overspend of £200,000 of its £1.5m temporary accommodation budget, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Emergency and temporary accommodation is provided to housing register applicants whilst their claim is being investigated.

Homeless people sit in band A of the council’s housing allocations.

The borough council will underlease the flats from Surrey County Council, which leases them from a private landlord.

A budget of £15,000 has been agreed to cover development of the site.

The councils' lease will co-expire in just under three years, when the terms will then be renewed or re-negotiated.