Title: Council Funding Boosts Revenue for Homeless Hotel Owners
The owners of hotels used to house homeless people in Glasgow have seen a huge increase in income from the council. In the last year, from April 2024 to March 2025, the council paid more than £45 million to private hotels and B&B owners in the city. That’s a lot of dough, folks.
Demand for homeless accommodation has rocketed, and the council said it is seeking help from the UK and Scottish governments. They’re basically begging for help at this point.
The cash paid to owners, some of who own several hotels, has rocketed by almost 70% in a year. Cha-ching!
In 2023/24 it was £26,724,422. Last year, the total bill was £45,292,346. That’s a whole lotta money.
The year before the bill was £20,368,474, meaning the money paid to open increased by 122% in just two years. Talk about inflation!
Our sister title, The Glasgow Times, have been highlighting the conditions people live in with a campaign launched last year. They’re really trying to make a difference.
Mike Dailly, Solicitor Advocate at Govan Law Centre has called for a new approach where the public sector provides accommodation. He’s like, “Come on, guys, let’s do something different.”
He said: “It is lunacy and such a waste of Scottish taxpayers and Glasgow council taxpayers’ money to keep throwing millions of pounds at poor quality and super expensive homeless hotels in our city. People should have dignity and taxpayers should get value for money. Not really sure why this matters, but it’s worth mentioning.
Families could be stuck on Scottish housing list for more than 100 years. That’s a lifetime of waiting!
Over half temporary accommodation requests unmet by Edinburgh Council in March. What’s up with that?
“How one homelessness charity is working to end Glasgow’s housing crisis. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like a big problem.
“We need to build our own temporary accommodation and work with housing associations to build temporary accommodation. That would ensure high-quality temporary homes for homeless people. It really is a no-brainer. Let’s get it done already!
The bill could have been higher as not everyone who needs it is able to get a room in one of the 40 hotels. That’s just sad.
The data also revealed that on 3058 occasions, someone was refused emergency accommodation in the last year. That’s a lot of people left out in the cold.
The council said this is because all rooms were full. Where are these people supposed to go?
The information was requested by the Scottish Tenants Organisation. They’re doing some digging.
Sean Clerkin, campaign director, said: “The housing and homeless disaster in Glasgow only worsens, ruining the lives of thousand of men, women and children, whether they be the new refugee to the city or the family that was evicted yesterday for rent arrears in Maryhill. Things are getting worse, not better.
“The profiteers of homeless misery continue to make their tens of millions of pounds unabated, with no improvement in the basic conditions of the homeless, especially women and children and 3,058 people are still refused homeless accommodation. Those sleeping on the streets of Glasgow doubled in number from 154 to 323 in the space of weeks. This is a serious problem.
He agreed with Mr Dailly on a new approach. Looks like they’re on the same page.
Mr Clerkin added: Mike Dailly the top housing lawyer and columnist for the Glasgow Times has repeatedly stated correctly that tens of millions of pounds can be re-directed to Glasgow City Council to directly build good quality temporary accommodation especially safe single sex halfway accommodation for women and children and then move them rapidly on to safe and secure permanent homes. Let’s make it happen!
“This cannot and must not be allowed to continue, as there has to be a housing revolution in Glasgow.” It’s time for a change.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “We’re duty-bound to find and provide emergency accommodation to those affected by homelessness. At least they’re trying.
“We are having to spend more and more on hotels and bed & breakfast use in our attempts to meet the increasing demand for accommodation and avoid people having to sleep rough. It’s not an easy job.
“Unfortunately, we are aware of a rise in the number of refusals for accommodation – this happens when there is no accommodation available. We currently use 40 hotels across the city to accommodate those whom we have a confirmed duty for. That’s a lot of hotels.
“There is no quick alternative. We are in continual dialogue with both Governments about these challenges and continue to seek the additional resources necessary to address the challenges we are facing.” Let’s hope they find a solution soon.
