Bristol city centre student flats to be converted into temporary accommodation

Student flats in Bristol city centre are set to be converted into temporary accommodation to help people at risk of becoming homeless.

Bristol City Council is planning to convert 10 flats with 34 bedrooms into temporary housing.

There are more than 1,400 households in temporary accommodation in Bristol at the moment, with figures rising.

The council has a legal duty to help people who are homeless and vulnerable, but increasing demand for temporary housing means there is a shortage of supply.

Often people are placed in expensive options, such as hotels or with private landlords, with high costs to the taxpayer. But the student flats could save the council almost a quarter of a million a year.

The cabinet is expected to approve the £980,000 plan to purchase and refurbish the flats during a public meeting on Tuesday, April 9.

A cabinet report said: “The council has a legal obligation to house people who are legally homeless and vulnerable.

“Due to a lack of affordable housing much of that accommodation is secured via expensive spot purchased accommodation from the private rental sector.

“An opportunity has arisen to explore taking a lease, circa 10 years, for a city centre building containing 10 ex-student flats for conversion and use as temporary accommodation.

“These households will be registered with the council and nominated to occupy the flats until they are able to move on into settled longer-term accommodation, for example into a private renting or a social tenancy.”

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Temporary housing is expected to cost the council £17m this financial year, on top of a government grant which was capped in 2011.

And the costs are growing, with almost £1m expected to be spent this year housing people in expensive hotels, due to a shortage of homes and rising demand.

The student flats are expected to save the council about £237,000 a year. Their location has not yet been made public.

The cabinet report added: “BCC will commission support for each household for the duration of their stay.

“They will be supported in areas such as finances and budgeting, physical and mental health and wellbeing, employment skills, and move on planning.”

Bristol’s student population is forecast to increase from 64,400 in 2021 to 85,400 by 2034, according to property experts CBRE.

Almost 10,000 student beds are already under construction, while over the past decade the number of students going to Bristol University and UWE has increased by more than 10,000.