A council is to spend £10m to buy homes on the open market to house local people – some at risk of homelessness as a result of private landlords selling up.

And it’s applying for a £5m grant to buy more homes.

A lack of affordable accommodation in Plymouth has resulted in more demand for housing and local homelessness services, the council says.

The council says the move would reduce the amount spent on temporary accommodation by over £1m a year.

Councillor Mark Lowry, cabinet member for finance, has told the BBC: “This is a sensible way to make people’s lives better and to help tackle a budget pressure which will only get worse.

“We have to do something as this is just awful for families caught in this situation.”

And councillor Chris Penberthy, cabinet member for housing, co-operative development and communities, says: “Plymouth is experiencing a record amount of people approaching the council for housing support.

“We are now seeing families with jobs, with children who find themselves simply unable to find a place to live.

“Landlords are selling up in record numbers, mortgages are going through the roof as well as rent.

“We have been talking to property agents and, for every home that comes up to rent, there are over 100 inquiries.”

The council says there’s been a 158 per cent increase in demand for temporary and short-term accommodation since 2019/2020, from 160 households in 2019 to 413 this year.