ALMOST 90 per cent of inspections at some emergency accommodation properties found at least one fault, a new council report has revealed.

Sixteen out of 18 emergency flats in Richmond Place and seven out of eight in North Road had issues or need for repairs.

Information on temporary accommodation inspections has been published by council officers for the first time as the cost of emergency housing continues to rise.

The number of families and individuals in Brighton and Hove City Council temporary accommodation has quadrupled in six years.

But despite a rising focus on the quality of emergency housing, led by the country’s first ever residents’ association for emergency accommodation tenants, the survey showed up to three quarters of residents making positive comments about their housing.

Councillors said surveyed levels of satisfaction may be higher than in reality as many residents felt pressured by providers not to be too critical.

Council officers said new problems were regularly occurring because of “wear and tear” and high turnover of residents and that a number of unfilled posts had made it more difficult to meet targets for six weekly inspections.

Green councillor Tom Druitt said: “I have a general concern that there is a conflict of interest from both providers who have an interest in a good report and the council.

“It would more helpful if a third party could do the inspections. We would get a much clearer picture of what is going on.”

Claire Moonan, council lead for homelessness, said: “It is more damaging if we have people in emergency accommodation who are unsatisfied or if they are becoming ill or end up sleeping on the streets.

“We want to get it right, we want the best feedback, that’s how we will improve the service.

“We don’t want to massage figures, we want to be open transparent and robust.”