Two council properties in Bath being turned into housing for the homeless are almost ready to take people in.

Last year, the council’s head of housing Graham Sabourn warned councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council: “The supply of accommodation is drying up.” Speaking last October, he said that the council was having to host families in bed and breakfasts due to a shortage of temporary accommodation.

But the council has been working to increase the temporary accommodation they have for the homeless, and work has been underway to convert two council owned properties in the city into temporary accommodation for 14 households. Now the council say the homes are nearing completion.

Commenting after a visit to one of the properties in Southdown set to open next month, Matt McCabe, the council’s cabinet member for built environment and sustainable development said that homelessness was still an increasing issue.

He said: “Rising rental costs and the cost of living, combined with increasing evictions from private rental accommodation has led to an increase in the number of households who are homeless or about to lose their home. The council has taken action to address this and help people by providing the right homes in the right place.

“I was very pleased to be able to go along and see the accommodation which has been built to a high specification. Not only will it provide sanctuary to vulnerable people, it also meets our climate emergency ambitions.”

The home features solar panels and an air heat pump in order to meet AECB energy efficiency standards.

Council leader Kevin Guy called the homes “another achievement for our ‘B&NES Homes’ housing programme. He said: “Families who have been made homeless can stay within the Bath and North East Somerset area, where it is easier to support them. It will also help to reduce the use of unsuitable, costly bed and breakfast accommodation that we have to use in emergencies.”

LDRS, John Wimperis