Questions have been raised over why there has been a rise in households bearing the brunt of the Isle of Wight’s housing crisis.
There are 257 households that are homeless, in temporary or emergency accommodation, 2,656 people on the housing register and six rough sleepers, according to the council’s housing needs data, as of 31st March.
Laura Gaudion, County Hall’s director of adult social care and housing needs, faced scrutiny in the council chamber last week (Thursday 25th June) over the 257 total and how the local authority calculates rough sleeping numbers.
Cllr Michael Lilley, Liberal Democrat representative for Ryde Appley and Elmfield, asked what is behind the rise in households that are homeless or in temporary or emergency accommodation from 229 in the same month last year to 257.
He said the figure was ‘extremely important to us all’.
Ms Gaudion said:
“In relation to homelessness, it’s always challenging to try to attribute the current demand to any particular scenario. Perhaps this time round it’s more easy for us than it has previously been before.
“As a committee you may be aware that there have been a substantial number of changes affecting private rented landlords and as a result a number of landlords have chosen to exit the private rented market sector, placing their properties up for sale and in effect making their previous tenants homeless.
Article continues below this advertisement “It appears that what we’re seeing – this report and for the start of next report – is the legacy of those changes to national legislation that have encouraged local people to make a different decision in terms of their investments and whether or not they’re prepared to be landlords for the future.”
The Renters’ Rights Act, which includes the ending of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, officially became law in October 2025.
Whitehall has said it will give renters much greater security and stability so they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities, and avoid the risk of homelessness.
Cllr Ed Blake, leader of the Conservative group, said:
“One thing that I’ve repeatedly raised is the number of rough sleepers that get reported in our Key Performance Indicators and the methodology for calculating that.
“I would like some kind of change to be looked at in terms of how we calculate that to make it more reflective of reality.”
The member for Ventnor and St Lawrence claimed most councillors can name three or four individuals rough sleeping in their individual wards – contrasting with the council’s official data.
Ms Gaudion said:
“The way in which rough sleepers are counted is based on a national model. If we’re looking to do something different locally, we need to consider what that could be and how we could allocate sufficient resource to do that.
“Identifying and calculating the number of rough sleepers is an eyes on physical activity which is why it’s done on a single count basis.
“If we are to employ staff to specifically go out and count on a different basis that comes with a cost that currently isn’t budgeted for.
“I would happily take away an action to liaise with the team and identify if there is another way we can look to provide more real-time calculation of people who are rough sleeping on the Island instead of going with the national model that we’re tied to.”
