Some councils are unlawfully moving homeless families into temporary accommodation outside their own boroughs, a new investigation has revealed.

Research conducted by homeless charity Shelter has revealed that nearly half of all new homeless households have been placed in temporary accommodation outside their local area in the past year, making it harder for families to access schools and healthcare services.

Based on freedom of information requests, the research also found that a quarter of homeless households have been sent to live in a non-neighbouring borough, with one in 10 households moved out of London altogether.

The charity said that while it may be lawful for local authorities to place people in temporary accommodation outside their own district they must place people as close to the home area as possible and explain why a home outside the local area is being offered.

However, Shelter found that only half of the London councils responding to its request were able to provide written copies of their allocation policies, including the suitability of out of area placements.   

The families being sent out of their local area told Shelter it made it harder to access essential services such as schools and hospital appointments. 

Some parents also claimed their council had threatened to put their children into care if they refused to accept an offer of temporary accommodation. 

The research found that a ‘chronic' lack of affordable housing, welfare reforms, and cuts to council budgets were making it harder for councils to accommodate homeless families in their own local area.