Homelessness is increasing, with 13,520 households in England accepted as statutorily homeless between January 1 and March 31 this year – a rise of 8% on the first quarter of last year.

In the financial year to this April, there were 54,430 households accepted as homeless – a rise of 4%.

New statistics from the Department for Communities and Local Government say that of the households accepted as homeless in the first quarter of 2015, 62% were put in temporary accommodation.

In total, on March 31 there were 64,710 households in temporary accommodation, 11% higher than at the same date in 2014.

The most common reason for homelessness was the ending of a tenancy with a private landlord.

This was the cause of 29% cases of homelessness (39% of cases in London) and DCLG says that the ending of a private tenancy has been an increasingly frequent cause over the last six years.

In London, homelessness is so high that the city has 75% of all households in temporary accommodation in England.

The number of households living in temporary accommodation in London was 48,240 at the end of March, up 11% on March 31, 2014.

Mayor Sir Steve Bullock, London Councils’ executive member for housing, said: “Tackling homelessness is one of the biggest challenges facing London today.

“Services are feeling the strain and so boroughs are working in ever-more innovative ways with local partners to support some of London’s most vulnerable people.

“But they must be given more power and financial freedom to increase the supply of housing otherwise this situation will get worse.”

Some London councils are turning to innovative solutions to try to tackle the problem. Croydon Council helps fund Real Lettings, a lettings agency that helps people at risk of homelessness, while Lewisham Council is commissioning ‘pop up’ homes on empty development land. When the land is no longer available, the homes can be packed up and moved to other vacant plots.