THE private rented sector is causing difficulties for councils trying to rehome families on benefits.

That's what a report from East Dorset and Christchurch councils says ahead of a meeting of East Dorset's scrutiny and policy development committee on Tuesday.

A report on homelessness figures says the rise in people presenting themselves as homeless is partly due to the end of shorthold tenancies.

And this is exacerbated by the expansion of the private rented sector, which has doubled in size since 2002, the report states.

"This indicates that affordability is an increasingly significant issue, as more households facing the end of a private tenancy are unable to find an alternative without assistance."

And it continues: "The ability to find quick solutions to avoid the use of bed and breakfast accommodation continue to reduce as the private rented sector becomes more difficult to access for many of the applicants who approach for assistance due to affordability, lack of guarantors and the reducing number of landlords accepting tenants on housing benefits.

"Both council areas also have relatively small numbers of private rented stock compared to national figures."

Already this year, the number of households asking for help is up on last year - 167 in Christchurch and 148 in East Dorset.

And the number of people who the council have a statutory duty to help also increased by 109 per cent to 48 last year.

So far this year, the number in Christchurch is "proportionally high", the report says.

There has however been a reduction in the number of people in temporary accommodation and emergency bed and breakfast accommodation.

However, both councils warn that if the grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government is cut, they will have to review their action plan.