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Hotel chains earn thousands from housing homeless families
Travelodge and Premier Inn hotels are being used by local authorities to house homeless families because they are cost less than placing them in hostels.
The leader of one council told The Independent newspaper that, in some cases, there was no alternative to putting families up in cheap hotels.
"The reason we use places like Travelodge is because you can’t find anywhere else," Ed Turner told the newspaper.
Huntingdon District Council admitted it had used Premier Inns to meet a shortfall in social housing.
A Premier Inn spokesman told The Independent it was asked "on an occasional basis" to provide accommodation for residents.
And Travelodge issued the following statement: "Local councils around the UK sometimes use our hotels, to provide temporary accommodation for individuals and families who are made homeless due to an emergency incident such as flooding or a fire. The Council book the hotels directly via our website like any other business and leisure customer."
Housing minister Mark Prisk said temporary accommodation was a waste of tax payers’ money and should only be used in emergencies, and then for no more than six weeks.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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