The number of homeless people in Bracknell Forest has increased almost fivefold in the last year.

Housing bosses claim the rise has been triggered by families being kicked out of their homes by landlords.

A Homeless Bound report by The National Housing Federation revealed homeless cases in Bracknell Forest had leapt from five to 24 in a year.

The report measures the number of families or individuals unintentionally made homeless, which the council has an obligation to find a home for.

Simon Hendy, Bracknell Forest Council’s chief of housing services, said: “The main reason was landlords serving notice on them. They want the property empty because they can get more rent from a new tenant rather than charge the current tenant more.

“Nearly half of all the cases in the first two quarters were because they have just lost their tenancy.”

The council is encouraging families who are facing losing their homes to seek help sooner and be aware there is somewhere they can turn to.

He added: “There’s no need for people to be actually living on the streets.

“We have a duty to help. We can try to find them another home, we can relocate them before they have to move out, but they really need to call us as soon as they think there is any threat of homelessness.

“If they call us a few days before they have to leave, then our options are limited. We have a resettlement service and a number of ways in which we can help them. We can organise a deposit or rent.”

But Pat Hallet from Kerith Community Church thinks there is a bigger problem as she sees the growing number of homeless cases everyday.

She said: “We certainly see them as seven per cent of our client base are homeless.

“Some are genuinely homeless and sleep outside or wherever they can find. Bracknell needs to realise there is genuine homelessness in the area.”

The figures for Bracknell Forest showed no change in the number of families with children living in B&Bs, despite a sharp rise of 83 per cent in families or pregnant woman living in B&Bs across the South East.

Warren Finney, of the National Housing Federation, said: “Our report shows that private renters are increasingly at risk of losing the roof over their heads. This is the new face of homelessness.”

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