London referrals
How London councils use the homelessness duty to refer, from the government's own figures.
- Households referred to each council by public bodies
- How prevention work ended
- Each quarter, for all 33 London councils
London, January to March 2026
- In January to March 2026, London councils assessed 1,440 households that a public body had referred to them under the duty to refer, compared with 1,290 in January to March 2025.
- In the same quarter, 6,110 prevention duties ended in London.
- In 3,010 of them (49.3%), the household kept its home or moved to another home, secured for at least six months (49.8% in January to March 2025).
- These London totals are MHCLG's, rounded to the nearest 10 and including MHCLG's estimates for councils with missing data.
- MHCLG published a duty to refer figure for 32 of the 33 councils this quarter. A prevention share is shown for 32. Each entry without a figure says why.
- The councils are listed in alphabetical order. This is not a ranking.
Use the figures
- Download the figures (CSV): five quarters for every council, from MHCLG's tables.
- Download the edition (JSON).
Free for anyone to reuse. The figures are MHCLG's, under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our summaries and the changes on a year earlier are under CC BY 4.0. Credit Mithril and MHCLG.
Cite this
Mithril, “London referrals”, edition of 10 October 2026. Figures: MHCLG, Statutory homelessness in England: January to March 2026, detailed local authority level tables (tables A7 and P1). https://mithrilcorp.co.uk/connector/duty-to-refer/
Councils
Type part of a council name.
Each referrals chart has its own scale. Read the number on each bar. A dash means MHCLG published no figure for that quarter.
Barking and Dagenham
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 334 fewer than a year earlier (37)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 29.7%2.1 points lower than a year earlier (31.8%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Barking and Dagenham's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000002. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Barnet
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 379 fewer than a year earlier (46)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 54.8%0.5 points lower than a year earlier (55.3%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Barnet's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000003. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Bexley
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 4535 more than a year earlier (10)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 67.5%5.4 points lower than a year earlier (72.9%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Bexley's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000004. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Brent
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 2714 fewer than a year earlier (41)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 29.0%3.6 points lower than a year earlier (32.6%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Brent's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000005. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Bromley
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 1217 fewer than a year earlier (29)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 47.9%11.8 points higher than a year earlier (36.1%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Bromley's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000006. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Camden
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 5912 more than a year earlier (47)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 50.4%8.4 points higher than a year earlier (42.0%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Camden's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000007. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
City of London
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 0The same as a year earlier (0)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- Not published
No prevention duty ended in City of London in January to March 2026, so there is no share to show. No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold City of London's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000001. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Croydon
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 193No figure for the same quarter last year
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 12.3%9.1 points higher than a year earlier (3.2%)
No change on last year: MHCLG published no duty to refer figure for Croydon for January to March 2025. No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Croydon's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000008. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Ealing
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 2822 fewer than a year earlier (50)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 50.0%8.5 points lower than a year earlier (58.5%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store holds Ealing's own documents, but none gave a readable sentence about data, early help or the duty to refer that passed the check.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000009. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Enfield
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 5020 fewer than a year earlier (70)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 69.3%17.6 points higher than a year earlier (51.7%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store holds Enfield's own documents, but none gave a readable sentence about data, early help or the duty to refer that passed the check.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000010. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Greenwich
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 6529 fewer than a year earlier (94)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 51.5%7.8 points lower than a year earlier (59.3%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Greenwich's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000011. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Hackney
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 625 fewer than a year earlier (67)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 56.0%14.7 points higher than a year earlier (41.3%)
“The public authorities subject to the duty to refer are specified in the Homelessness (Review Procedure etc.) Regulations 2018”
Hackney Council, “The Hackney Homeless and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023-26” (cabinet report, 11 December 2023), PDF p. 13. Open the document
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000012. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Hammersmith and Fulham
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 910 fewer than a year earlier (19)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 41.5%6.3 points higher than a year earlier (35.2%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Hammersmith and Fulham's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000013. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Haringey
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 2411 fewer than a year earlier (35)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 51.7%6.8 points lower than a year earlier (58.5%)
“Probation and Children's services especially through the duty to refer and Service Level Agreements”
Haringey Council, “Haringey Homelessness Review 2026” (report, listed under “Positive relationships and working practices identified”), PDF p. 35. Open the document
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000014. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Harrow
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 2814 more than a year earlier (14)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 56.9%9.8 points lower than a year earlier (66.7%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Harrow's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000015. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Havering
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 8518 more than a year earlier (67)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 51.7%0.8 points lower than a year earlier (52.5%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Havering's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000016. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Hillingdon
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 65No figure for the same quarter last year
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 38.7%12.6 points higher than a year earlier (26.1%)
No change on last year: MHCLG published no duty to refer figure for Hillingdon for January to March 2025. No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Hillingdon's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000017. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Hounslow
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 396 more than a year earlier (33)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 29.1%3.5 points lower than a year earlier (32.6%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Hounslow's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000018. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Islington
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 672 fewer than a year earlier (69)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 52.5%15.6 points lower than a year earlier (68.1%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Islington's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000019. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Kensington and Chelsea
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 187 more than a year earlier (11)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 64.3%16.0 points lower than a year earlier (80.3%)
“many households still approach the Council after becoming homeless”
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, “Draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026–2031” (consultation draft, consultation opened 8 September 2026), PDF p. 5. Open the document
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000020. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Kingston upon Thames
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- Not published
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 60.9%No figure for the same quarter last year
MHCLG published no duty to refer figure for Kingston upon Thames for January to March 2026 (marked [x] by MHCLG: data missing or not reliable). No change on last year: MHCLG published no prevention outcome counts for Kingston upon Thames for January to March 2025. No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Kingston upon Thames's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000021. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Lambeth
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 6014 fewer than a year earlier (74)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 86.1%2.5 points higher than a year earlier (83.6%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Lambeth's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000022. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Lewisham
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 484 more than a year earlier (44)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 48.5%0.6 points higher than a year earlier (47.9%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Lewisham's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000023. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Merton
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 51 more than a year earlier (4)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 48.9%11.2 points lower than a year earlier (60.1%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Merton's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000024. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Newham
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 577 fewer than a year earlier (64)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 64.0%2.7 points lower than a year earlier (66.7%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Newham's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000025. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Redbridge
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 263 fewer than a year earlier (29)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 27.8%21.9 points lower than a year earlier (49.7%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store holds Redbridge's own documents, but none gave a readable sentence about data, early help or the duty to refer that passed the check.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000026. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Richmond upon Thames
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 22 fewer than a year earlier (4)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 53.5%10.0 points lower than a year earlier (63.5%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Richmond upon Thames's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000027. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Southwark
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 673 fewer than a year earlier (70)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 78.5%7.1 points higher than a year earlier (71.4%)
“In 2024-2025 the council recorded a 72% success rate in preventing homelessness where early help was provided”
Southwark Council, “Council unveils five-year plan to tackle homelessness in midst of national housing crisis” (news, 24 June 2025), web page. Open the document
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000028. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Sutton
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 82 fewer than a year earlier (10)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 45.5%11.5 points lower than a year earlier (57.0%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Sutton's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000029. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Tower Hamlets
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 7218 more than a year earlier (54)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 47.2%The same as a year earlier (47.2%)
“In 2022/23, there were more people presenting at the prevention stage (1879)”
Tower Hamlets Council, “Tower Hamlets Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024 -2029” (strategy, 27 November 2024), PDF p. 33. Open the document
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000030. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Waltham Forest
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 818 more than a year earlier (73)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 45.5%18.5 points higher than a year earlier (27.0%)
No checked statement found. Second Order's evidence store does not yet hold Waltham Forest's own strategy or committee papers.
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000031. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Wandsworth
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 55The same as a year earlier (55)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 50.5%22.3 points higher than a year earlier (28.2%)
“Public authorities have a statutory duty to refer service users who they believe are homeless or threatened with homelessness to a local authority.”
Wandsworth Council, “New direction for housing in Wandsworth Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2023-2028” (strategy, 14 March 2024), PDF p. 10. Open the document
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000032. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Westminster
- Households referred under the duty to refer and assessed, January to March 2026
- 7The same as a year earlier (7)
- Prevention duties that ended with the household keeping or securing a home, January to March 2026
- 89.2%7.6 points lower than a year earlier (96.8%)
“Data for 2022/2023 shows that Westminster has a higher proportion (77%) of approaches at this stage compared with London overall (55%)”
Westminster City Council, “Homelessness Review September 2024” (report, section 8.4, on approaches at the Relief Duty stage), PDF p. 11. Open the document
Figures: MHCLG detailed local authority tables A7 and P1, row E09000033. January to March 2026 · January to March 2025
Method
Referrals: the number of households that a public body (for example a hospital, a prison, the probation service, Jobcentre Plus or social services) referred to the council under the duty to refer, and that the council then assessed in the quarter. The figure is MHCLG's table A7, "Households referred by a public body under the duty to refer". MHCLG counts a referral only when the household went on to be assessed: a household that did not contact the council after a referral is not counted (MHCLG note 15). The duty to refer came into force in October 2018.
Prevention: of the households whose prevention duty ended in the quarter, the share that kept their home or moved to another home, secured for at least six months. MHCLG publishes the counts in table P1 ("Households who secured accommodation for 6 or more months" and "Households whose prevention duty ended"); the share is our calculation from those two counts, to one decimal place.
Change on last year: the same quarter a year earlier, from that quarter's own MHCLG release, in households for referrals and in percentage points for prevention. The point change is the difference of the two shares as shown. MHCLG's figures are provisional and MHCLG revises earlier quarters at the end of each financial year, so a figure here can differ from a later revision.
Gaps: where MHCLG marks a council's figure as missing ([x] or ..) or suppressed ([c]), the entry says so and shows no number. A missing figure is never shown as zero. Council figures are not rounded; MHCLG rounds London and England totals to the nearest 10.
Reading the figures: councils record referrals differently, and small numbers move a lot from quarter to quarter, so a difference between two councils can come from how referrals are recorded, not how the duty is used. Councils are listed in alphabetical order, and nothing on this page ranks them.
Quotes: one sentence from the council's own published documents about data, early help or the duty to refer, found and checked against the stored document by Second Order's evidence engine. Where no sentence passed the check, the entry says "no checked statement found".
Sources
- MHCLG, Statutory homelessness in England: January to March 2026, detailed local authority level tables (tables A7 and P1), published 13 August 2026
- MHCLG, Statutory homelessness in England: January to March 2025, detailed local authority level tables (tables A7 and P1), published 22 July 2025
Figures © Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.