Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has entered into an agreement for lease on 20 one- and two-bedroom flats on Quarry Hill Road, Tonbridge, to house local families who become homeless — with the council currently spending around £2.2 million a year on more expensive alternatives.
Around 100 households across the borough need temporary accommodation right now. That’s short-term housing the council is legally required to provide when someone becomes homeless and qualifies for help — and at £2.2 million a year, the current arrangements aren’t cheap. The new flats, converted from offices by the building’s owners, will go to families with a local connection to Tonbridge and Malling who need somewhere fast.
The agreement means the council has committed to lease the flats once the conversion from offices has been completed by the owners. The Quarry Hill Road site is close to Tonbridge town centre and the railway station, and within the borough.
Cllr Robin Betts, the council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Environment and Economy, said: “We’re very pleased to be providing these extra homes for temporary housing. They are in a sustainable location close to the town centre, railway station and importantly within the borough. Everyone has a right to a decent place to live, and we are proud to be able to support local families from Tonbridge and Malling who find themselves needing emergency housing at short notice to stay within the local area.”
The council announced the agreement on 3 November 2026.
What happens next: the office-to-flat conversion must be completed before the council can begin placing families in the Quarry Hill Road properties.Tonbridge and Malling Council agrees lease on 20 flats for homeless families in Tonbridge Quiz
5 questions