COUNCIL chiefs are powerless to move on surging numbers of homeless people camped in tents outside its multi-million pound headquarters.

We told how one couple were living in a tent outside the local authority’s plush base in the centre of Edinburgh last winter amid Scotland’s ongoing housing emergency.

More and more homeless people are sleeping outside of the council hubCredit: Andrew Barr

Council chiefs have admitted they are powerless to move them onCredit: Dave Johnston – Commissioned by The Sun

But the number of tents has now multiplied amid increasing numbers of people living rough on the streets.

And the council has admitted it has “no legal basis” to move people on.

One woman who has been sleeping in one of the five tents pitched underneath an overhang at the hub said: “It’s dryer and warmer. You have a bit more privacy.

“If you are in stairwells and shop doorways, people phone the police. They can’t move you on from here because they are responsible for housing.

“We are struggling to remain at the same place.

“People are sleeping rough in alleyways and graveyards.”

But she said despite being outside the £80million hub they were still cruelly targeted.

She said: “We get stuff stolen from the tents all the time.”

She added that charities offering support have been handing out sleeping bags and tents to those facing a festive season in the open.

Last night Scottish Labour Housing spokesperson Mark Griffin said: “These heartbreaking scenes lay bare the human cost of Scotland’s housing emergency.

“Rough sleeping across Scotland is at its highest point in 14 years but the SNP has no answers.

“We urgently need to boost housebuilding in Scotland and deliver fair funding for local government so we can give Scots the safe, secure homes they need.”

Sean Clerkin of the Scottish Tenants Organisation – who has seen the tents outside the Edinburgh HQ – said: “It’s like a homeless camp. The housing emergency has turned into a housing disaster.

“The people who are in charge of it don’t know what to do because there is a massive disconnect between those in authority and those at the bottom end of society.”

Scotland’s homelessness statistics

THE latest Homelessness Statistics for Scotland report revealed the total rose from 1,932 in 2023-24 to 2,465 in 2024-25.

This is a 28 per cent increase.

The Scottish Government previously pledged to build 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, with 70% of these to be for social rent.

But recent figures showed 31,064 of these affordable homes had been built up to the end of September, with new starts and approvals in decline.

At First Minister’s questions on Thursday, Labour leader Anas Sarwar warned more than 10,000 children across Scotland would be spending Christmas without a permanent home of their own.

He pointed to figures that show a record 17,000 households are currently registered as homeless.

He said one family in Glasgow has spent 13 years in temporary accommodation.

An Edinburgh City Council spokesperson said: “We don’t have a legal basis to move people on, but our approach is to provide support and relationship building through our street-based outreach teams.”

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Tim Pogson added: “I’m deeply concerned about anyone who is rough sleeping, particularly during the cold winter months.

“Our street-based outreach teams regularly engage with rough sleepers, including those outside Waverly Court, to provide support and advice around housing and welfare.

“These are often highly complex situations, but our teams will always seek to engage with individuals and work to find solutions.”

Anas Sarwar warned more than 10,000 Scots kids would be spending Christmas without a homeCredit: Getty

Rows of rough sleepers can be seen outside of the plush HQCredit: Michael Schofield