A council chief has admitted the authority did not “anticipate the rise” in homelessness.

Last week, it emerged St Albans City and District Council had spent £3,600 on hotel rooms at the Premier Inn, Adelaide Street, because of shortages in temporary accommodation and permanent housing options.

The amount spent on temporary bed and breakfast accommodation is £120,000 so far this financial year, compared to £10,419 in 2012-13 and £34,000 in 2013-14.

In January last year, 97 households were registered as homeless, but this had increased to 120 by December. Four years ago, between 30 and 35 households were registered as homeless.

Councillor Brian Ellis, lead member for housing at the council said officers had been managing “supply against demand” for temporary accommodation, but did not see the demand for temporary accommodation rising as quickly as it has.

He said: “We are increasing the number of temporary accommodation which we hope will improve the situation.

“If you had significant increases in the temporary accommodation provision, over the last three years, quite a lot of them would have been sitting there idol. So what we have got to do is have a level of flexibility in our stock so we can deal with the peaks.

“Up until last year, I think the officers were managing supply against demand. It is just the number has risen by more than anyone anticipated.

“It is one of those things that is very difficult to estimate.

“The highest it has been in previous cycles, was, I think, about 100 households.

“We have gone over that. Currently, we are up to 120, so the extra increase was not anticipated.”

However, the Tory representative for Harpenden South could not rule out the council spending more money on hotel rooms to tackle homelessness in the future.

He said: “What we have got to bear in mind is, if people turn up at the council offices with their suitcases and say ‘we have not got anywhere to live’, we [the council] have got to find something for them.

“We do not want to use high costing accommodation but if everywhere else is full and tthat is the only place that has got spaces, we have a statutory duty to do something.

When asked whether the council could pay for more hotel rooms, Councillor Ellis said: “It is possible”.

Councillor Alec Campbell, lead member for resources, told the St Albans and Harpenden Review the level of spending on temporary accommodation was “likely to go up.”

Both councillors pointed towards a controversial proposed redevelopment of St Claire’s in Church Street.

Councillor Ellis said: “It used to be two Victorian style buildings. It was knocked into one and has been used as a place for elderly people with mental difficulties.

“It is now empty because it is no longer fit for purpose.

The cabinet member for housing added a planning application for this will be put in and “assuming it will accepted” would create space for 10 units for single people.