The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a new report on children placed in illegal unregistered children’s homes. Data from local authorities in England shows that 669 children were living in unregistered children’s homes on 1 September 2025, a decrease of 12% from 2024. Key findings include: over half of children in unregistered placements were 16-to-17-years-old; 30% of children in unregistered placements had a least one missing episode, in comparison to 11% of all children in care; and 61% of children had been placed outside of their local authority area. Recommendations include: a clear service specification for accommodation, including accommodation which may restrict liberty, set out by the government; and a duty on local authorities to notify Ofsted within 24 hours of placing a child in an unregistered setting.
Read the press release: Rise in ‘million-pound placements’ as vulnerable children with additional needs are housed illegally in caravans, holiday camps and AirBnBs
Read the report: Children living in illegal children’s homes
Source: Children’s Commissioner for England
Date published: 11 January 2026
