Homelessness in London is a “rising crisis,” said the council’s deputy leader.

After Redbridge Council cabinet members on Tuesday agreed to a revised five-year action plan on the issue, Cllr Ian Bond (Liberal Democrat, Roding) spoke out about the problems that London boroughs face due to a growing population.

Redbridge will maximise the supply of homes and intervene in the private rented sector to meet demand, prevent homelessness cases and create effective housing options, reduce the use of bed and breakfast accommodation and the promote independence.

Cllr Bond said: “Across London, homelessness is a rising crisis. We are having to look at doing everything we can to meet the demand for housing.”

The strategy, which will run until 2018, was modified after a review and the results of a consultation.

Cllr Bond believes the issue of residents remaining in bed and breakfasts for long periods of time is particularly pressing.

In the report on homelessness in the borough, provided to cabinet members in a meeting at Redbridge Town Hall, High Road, Ilford, this issue is marked as a priority one item, with other challenges set by the government to local authorities also ranked.

Other issues deemed to be of high importance are the prevention of mortgage repossessions and the formation of a private rented sector offer for residents.

Cllr Bond said: “The problem we are facing is a lot of landlords are not renting their properties for social housing.

“We would place tenants in these houses, but landlords now let them privately and some say they don’t want to house benefit claimants.”