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Carrying out a count-based estimate
This section contains a full explanation of how to organise and execute a count-based estimate, including a guidance video and links to any helpful documents. Please note that for 2025, the quality assurance process for all count-based estimates will take place remotely. A full explanation of the remote quality assurance process is provided below.
Between July and September, local authorities must begin preparations for the annual rough sleeping snapshot count. The lead officer should appoint a coordinator either internal or external (e.g. outreach leader or Housing Options manager) to manage the estimate process. Coordination must involve partner agencies, including at least one independent partner for verification. The local authority must ensure access to the DELTA data system.
We have also produced a video on carrying out a count-based estimate.
Quality Assurance
Assured
All elements of the chosen approach have been followed, no concerns about process or execution.
Not Fully Assured
Chosen approach was partially followed e.g. no independent partner, count began before midnight, etc
Not Assured
Chosen approach was not followed, e.g. known sites/hotspots were inaccessible or not visited, safety concerns, a different approach would have provided a more robust figure
Feedback
The RAG rating is a simple traffic-light-style colour-coding system used to grade how closely each local authority has been able fulfil the requirements of their chosen rough sleeping snapshot estimate approach, and whether/to what extent intervention by Homeless Link was needed. It helps Homeless Link to identify which LAs to offer additional support in subsequent rough sleeping snapshot estimates. These ratings do not feature in the MHCLG publication.
Green: no concerns with preparation or execution, light-touch support provided by Homeless Link
Amber: some concerns with preparation/execution if the chosen approach, e.g. no independent partner involved, substantial support from Homeless Link was required, and/or snapshot total classified as ‘partially verified’ by Homeless Link. Highlighted for support in 2026
Red: significant deviation from chosen approach, e.g. inappropriate choice of approach, known sleep sites not included in mapping, and/or snapshot total classified as ‘unverified’ by Homeless Link. Prioritised for support in 2026
From 2025 onwards, Quality Assurance ratings for local authorities will be included in MHCLG rough sleeping snapshot estimate reporting, however, the RAG ratings will not. The RAG ratings are not in any way punitive, they are simply to record how closely each local authority has been able to fulfil the requirements of the count-based estimate approach and whether additional support for future snapshot estimates should be offered to local authorities rated Amber or Red.
Please note that following the change to remote quality assurance verification for count-based estimates, and in line with the approach for evidence-based estimates (with or without a spotlight count), any count-based estimates that are RAG rated Amber or Red will be automatically allocated an in-person quality assurance verifier for the subsequent year’s rough sleeping snapshot estimate.
Click here to view the new count-based estimate verification form.
Carrying out an evidence-based estimate
This section contains a full explanation of how to organise and execute an evidence-based estimate, including a guidance video and links to any helpful documents. There are no changes to the evidence-based estimate quality assurance (formerly verification) process this year.
We have produced a video of guidance on carrying out an evidence-based approach.
Appoint a coordinator
The local authority lead should decide to coordinate their own estimate or give responsibility for the estimate process to an external coordinator, for example a rough sleeping coordinator, Housing Options manager or outreach team leader. They will need to involve local partner agencies in the process, including at least one independent partner to attend the estimate meeting.
Check that the local authority lead has access to MHCLG’s DELTA online data collection system. See the DELTA guidance below for more information.
Choosing the ‘typical’ night
The estimate is based on a single, ‘typical’ night between 1st October and 30th November. The date can be at any point during October-November and can change from one year to the next (see above). The last possible date is night of 29th into morning of 30th November, if that night can be defined at ‘typical’ in an area.
The coordinator chooses the ‘typical’ night and agencies will collate intelligence in relation to this one night. It is good practice to liaise with neighbouring areas and, if possible, organise an estimate on the same night over a county or wider sub-regional area to minimise the risk of double counting.
Always use the date format ‘night of x into morning of x’ to avoid confusion e.g. ‘the night of Wednesday 23rd October into morning of Thursday 24th October.’
Estimates based on two or more nights cannot be verified.
When choosing your ‘typical’ night, please take into account the following:
- Avoid a night when unusual local factors may distort the numbers, such as events, festivals, charity sleep-outs, higher levels of police activity or changes to service opening times.
- Identify an appropriate day of the week: choosing a weekend may mean that people bed down later or are less visible. Also, consider whether certain days, such as those with club nights or football matches, may distort average levels of rough sleeping in the area.
- Whether an outreach shift is planned that can provide a spotlight count as a data source. Please note that all spotlight counts must start after midnight on the ‘typical’ night chosen and an outreach shift prior to midnight would not be classed as a spotlight count.
- Make a contingency plan for severe weather conditions that change patterns of rough sleeping (see below).
Update Homeless Link
The quality of all estimates is assessed by Homeless Link. Contact Homeless Link’s Rough Sleeping Snapshot Project Coordinator at: verifiers@homelesslink.org.uk as soon as you have confirmed your approach, ‘typical’ night, and estimate meeting date so that we can arrange a quality assurance call.
In some cases, Homeless Link will ask a Quality Assurance Verifier to attend an online estimate meeting to assess the quality of the rough sleeping snapshot estimate. In other areas we will carry this out by telephone after the meeting. Where an estimate is informed by a spotlight count, Homeless Link will verify the overall estimate meeting rather than the spotlight count.
New snapshot estimate Quality Assurance and RAG ratings
In 2025, updated quality assurance ratings and RAG ratings are being introduced for all evidence-based estimates (with or without a spotlight count). On the updated evidence-based estimate verification form you will now see the following two sections:
Quality Assurance
Assured
All elements of the chosen approach have been followed, no concerns about process or execution.
Not Fully Assured
Chosen approach was partially followed e.g. no independent partner, count began before midnight, etc
Not Assured
Chosen approach was not followed, e.g. known sites/hotspots were inaccessible or not visited, safety concerns, a different approach would have provided a more robust figure
RAG Ratings and Feedback
The RAG rating is a simple traffic-light-style colour-coding system used to grade how closely each local authority has been able fulfil the requirements of their chosen rough sleeping snapshot estimate approach, and whether/to what extent intervention by Homeless Link was needed. It helps Homeless Link to identify which LAs to offer additional support in subsequent rough sleeping snapshot estimates. These ratings do not feature in the MHCLG publication.
Green: no concerns with preparation or execution, light-touch support provided by Homeless Link
Amber: some concerns with preparation/execution if the chosen approach, e.g. no independent partner involved, substantial support from Homeless Link was required, and/or snapshot total classified as ‘partially verified’ by Homeless Link. Highlighted for support in 2026
Red: significant deviation from chosen approach, e.g. inappropriate choice of approach, known sleep sites not included in mapping, and/or snapshot total classified as ‘unverified’ by Homeless Link. Prioritised for support in 2026
From 2025 onwards, Quality Assurance ratings for local authorities will be included in MHCLG rough sleeping snapshot estimate reporting, However, the RAG ratings will not. The RAG ratings are not in any way punitive, they are simply to record how closely each local authority has been able to fulfil the requirements of the count-based estimate approach and whether additional support for future snapshot estimates should be offered to local authorities rated Amber or Red.
As in previous years, any evidence-based estimates that are RAG rated Amber or Red will be automatically allocated a quality assurance verifier to attend the subsequent year’s evidence-based estimate meeting.
Click here for the updated evidence-based estimate verification form.
Submitting the single figure
Once the estimate has been assessed by Homeless Link and the completed quality assurance form received by the local authority, they should submit the single figure and demographic data using the MHCLG’s DELTA online system. See the DELTA Guidance below for further information.
Data must be submitted to MHCLG by the local authority using DELTA no later than Friday 5th December 2025.
Carrying out an evidence-based estimate, including a spotlight count
This section explains of how to organise an evidence-based estimate including a spotlight count, including a guidance video and links to any helpful documents. There are no changes to the evidence-based estimate including a spotlight count quality assurance (formerly verification) process this year, however the quality assurance form has been updated. Please see the ‘New snapshot estimate quality assurance ratings and RAG ratings’ section above for details.
Useful forms and other resources
This section contains forms, templates, agendas, meeting facilitator notes and other guidance for local authorities to use to carry out count-based estimates and evidence-base estimate meetings. They are all designed to be a starting point and can be adapted for local use. Click on the links below to access teach template
Common scenarios and possible solutions
Since 2010, some questions have regularly cropped up, including whether to count individuals sleeping in caravans, boats and other unusual locations. No two situations are the same, but Homeless Link has put together a slide deck of the most common scenarios along with some suggestions as to how they can be approached.
We have collected some of those scenarios here.
