Kent MPs are calling on the government to take steps to curb London councils from relocating residents to the county to save money.

In a joint letter to the housing minister, Gavin Barwell, the MPs warn that there are signs that the practice of councils sending families to Kent has the potential to cause “significant issues” - notably the pressure on public services such as the NHS and schools.

The letter states: “We appreciate the London boroughs are under pressure with many having very significant levels of homelessness combined with high local property costs. There is however a resource disparity between London boroughs and the authorities receiving placements.”

It cites the impact of hundreds of families from Redbridge relocated “en masse” in homes on Howe Barracks, former Ministry of Defence land in Canterbury as an example.

Redbridge council bought the site that Canterbury City Council had wanted for its own residents.

MPs say: “This is a new phenomenon which, if it is the start of a new trend, has the potential to cause significant issues.”

The letter says that a consequence of the relocation by Redbridge “public agencies have had to respond quickly to the needs of these extra 250 families.”

“One notable example is of a primary school which was asked to find 100 school places with just two weeks notice of the children’s arrival" - Kent MPs in letter to minister

“One notable example is of a primary school which was asked to find 100 school places with just two weeks notice of the children’s arrival.”

MPs say the government should take steps that would give London boroughs less incentive to place families out of their area.

One proposal is that Kent receives a share of the housing allowance paid to London councils “to mitigate the costs of the wrap-around services Kent has to provide.

The minister is told that it should be compulsory for placing councils to notify in advance where they are putting families.

MPs say councils should also be required to provide information about whether families have social care issues, such as domestic abuse.

The letter has been signed by 12 of the county’s MPs, headed by Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant.

Speaking last year, KCC leader Paul Carter said he was concerned by the growing evidence that councils were using Kent to save money.

“This could be the start of a significant flow of London boroughs, in their duty to provide homes for vulnerable families, placing families outside of London into the coastal areas of Kent and peripheral regions in the South East.”