Croydon Council is supporting residents facing homelessness to access more affordable housing options outside London through Reloc8, as part of its wider work to manage housing demand and reduce the need for temporary accommodation.
Like councils across the country, Croydon is facing high demand for homelessness support and a shortage of affordable homes. The Council received around 4,400 new homelessness applications in 2025/26, and the latest national figures show Croydon had the third highest number of applications in the country between October and December 2025.
The Council looks for suitable housing in Croydon wherever reasonably possible, but this cannot always be found locally. For some residents, looking further afield can give them access to a home they can afford and the support they need to make that move work.
Reloc8 is one of the ways the Council helps households find suitable and affordable private rented homes when these cannot be found locally. Any offer takes into account the individual needs and circumstances of the household, including employment, children’s education, health and support needs.
Where a home is considered suitable, refusing an offer can affect the Council’s duty to provide further accommodation. Households moving through Reloc8 are supported throughout the process, with practical help to move and settle into their new home.
For one Croydon mother, Reloc8 meant she and her children were able to move straight into a new home rather than going into temporary accommodation.
Sarah, whose name has been changed at her request to protect her privacy, was facing homelessness after receiving a Section 21 eviction notice from her landlord. After speaking to her housing officer she was shown a potential home through Reloc8.
Sarah’s situation, including her ability to transfer to another location through work, were taken into account when finding a suitable home. She viewed the property offered through Reloc8 and was able to move straight in with her children rather than going into temporary accommodation.
Sarah said: “The transfer from Croydon to where I am now was pretty easy and I find myself very lucky given the circumstances. On the same day we were evicted from my flat in Croydon, we were offered a tenancy for the new house after I viewed it. It was such a blessing as my children didn’t have to go through the temporary accommodation process.
“I had calls from my housing officer and calls from Reloc8 to check everything was fine. I was even greeted with a hamper basket, which was completely unexpected. Before I signed the tenancy, I was asked by my housing officer if I needed any appliances or bedroom furniture, which I did. It was all ready for me the day I signed the contract – a few things less for me to worry about.
“The Council had also arranged for our belongings to be moved from my storage unit in Croydon to my new house which had taken the toll off me greatly. I wasn’t expecting that at all and was actually mentally preparing to do it myself!
“I had a call a couple of months down the line again to check everything was still going well, so I was never left alone. It was nice to hear a London accent from time to time!
“I could never had imagined that I would be living in a big house. I’m happy knowing my children have a whole house now whereas before we were cramped in a small two-bedroom flat.
“My children are surrounded by a greener space and a safer environment. Also, I now have more money in my pocket as the rent is so ridiculously low up north.”
By May 2026, 63 households had moved through Reloc8, helping the Council avoid an estimated £426,000 in temporary accommodation costs.
“Every family deserves a safe, secure and affordable place to call home. Our first priority will always be to find suitable housing in Croydon wherever possible, but for some families Reloc8 can offer a positive alternative to temporary accommodation.
“For Sarah and her children, it meant moving straight into a spacious new home with a rent they can afford, supported at every stage of the process. It is wonderful to hear how well they have settled and the difference the move has made to their lives.
“Moving out of the area will not be right for everyone, which is why each family’s circumstances are carefully considered. But when it is suitable, it can provide the stability and fresh start that families facing homelessness urgently need.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
