If we believe that you’re eligible for help, you’re homeless and in priority need, we may have a duty to provide temporary accommodation until we decide on your homeless application.

Types of temporary accommodation

This can range from the emergency use of bed and breakfast hotels and hostels to accommodation managed by private agents and housing associations. We may also make referrals to supported temporary accommodation for people with support needs where it is available. The type of accommodation arranged for you will depend on your own circumstances and the amount of notice we have regarding your homelessness and availability of other options.

Location of the temporary accommodation

We’ll try to find you accommodation in the local area, but cannot guaranteed this, as we can only place people in properties where there are vacancies.

Period of temporary accommodation

Normally, you’ll stay in the temporary accommodation until we’ve decided on your homeless application. However, if we accept a duty to you, we’ll continue to provide temporary accommodation until a more permanent solution is found. If we decide we do not have a duty towards you, we’ll ask you to leave the accommodation, with reasonable notice, and offer advice on your housing options.

There’s a severe shortage of social housing in our area, with very high demand. Not everyone we accept a duty to can be provided with social housing. We therefore look to options in the private rented sector where there’s often more choice and availability. We may discharge our duty by finding you a suitable private rented home.

Cost of temporary accommodation

You may be eligible for Housing Benefit to help meet the cost of temporary accommodation. We can assist you in completing a housing benefit application form, but you must give us all the documents needed to support your application as soon as possible.

Even if you’re on a low income, you may still have to pay towards costs not covered by any Housing Benefit that’s been awarded. Some types of temporary accommodation, such as bed and breakfast hotels, are expensive and not all the costs may be met by Housing Benefit.

If we assist you with any storage or removal fees, you may also be required to repay these in full.

Cancelling temporary accommodation

We may cancel your temporary accommodation at any time, but only if you do not:

• keep appointments with us
• provide requested documents
• take reasonable care of the accommodation
• accept other offers of suitable interim or temporary accommodation made to you
• pay the charges you are requested to
• stay in your room at night
• move into any suitable offer of accommodation available to you if we have accepted a duty to you

You and any guests visiting must abide by the proprietors' house rules and not cause nuisance to any other resident. Failure to do so will also mean that you are asked to leave.

Pets in temporary accommodation

Most of our temporary accommodation does not allow pets, so you may need to find temporary homes for them. We may be able to help in some circumstances, and we’ll discuss this with you at the time.