104 Child Deaths Linked to England's Temporary Accommodation Crisis

Temporary accommodation includes hotels, hostels, and bed‑and‑breakfasts used by councils when permanent housing is unavailable. England currently has about 135,000 households in such placements, sheltering nearly 176,000 children. The housing shortage has pushed families into these settings for extended periods, raising concerns about safety and health.

Between April 2019 and March 2025, 104 children died in England with temporary accommodation recorded as a contributing factor; 76 of those were under one year old. In the same period, data showed 140 children died while their main residence was listed as temporary accommodation, a figure that may rise after ongoing death reviews. In 2024, the UK recorded 64 stillbirths and 27 neonatal deaths among mothers living in temporary accommodation. MBRRACE‑UK analysis found that at least 91 of 3,303 baby deaths that year involved mothers in such housing, representing roughly three percent. Siobhain McDonagh, chair of the all‑party parliamentary group for households in temporary accommodation, called the figures outrageous and urged urgent, sustained action to reduce homeless children and end unsafe temporary accommodation.

The data indicate that current temporary accommodation often lacks basic amenities such as cooking facilities, safe play space, and adequate ventilation, with reports of mould and pests. Cross‑party committees have criticised the government for funding temporary housing without monitoring its quality, noting that spending has increased while oversight lags. Proposed measures include extending Awaab’s law and the decent homes standard to temporary accommodation, eliminating bed‑and‑breakfast use by the end of the parliament, and mandating regular inspections. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill aims to improve identification and support for vulnerable children.