Interim and temporary accommodation

We understand that being placed in interim or temporary accommodation can be stressful, but we ask that people remain flexible and realistic.

Whilst we will always work to find the best suitable fit and meet specific equalities needs (for example physical access requirements), it is important to remember that interim and temporary accommodation is unlikely to meet all personal preferences - it may not be in your ideal location, and the facilities may not match what you'd choose in a permanent home. However, it is a safe place to stay while we work with you on your next steps.

The goal of all interim and temporary accommodation is to act as a stepping stone - not a long-term solution. If you are offered interim or temporary accommodation, it is important to recognise it is short-term housing designed to offer safety and stability while we help you move on to something more permanent.

If you move into interim or temporary accommodation, the most important thing is to continue to work with our team to focus on your next step towards finding more permanent accommodation - our team are available to help you do that. 

Difference between interim and temporary accommodation and why this is important:

• If we consider you may have priority need, but you have not yet provided sufficient evidence to confirm this and we are still carrying out our investigations, we may make you an offer of interim accommodation (under S188(1) of the Housing Act 1996) - at this point your homelessness application will be considered to be in 'relief' duty which lasts 56 days. 
• If you refuse an offer of interim accommodation, we are likely to discharge our interim duty to accommodate you - you do not have a right to request a review of an offer of interim accommodation.
• After refusing an offer of interim accommodation, you will need to make your own accommodation arrangements, until such time as we have determined whether you are eligible for a longer term housing duty - this will often rely on you providing us with more supporting information and the decision will not be made until your 56 days in the 'relief' duty stage has ended.
• If you accept an offer of interim accommodation and move in, we will continue our investigations to determine whether you are homeless, eligible for assistance, have priority need, are not homeless intentionally and have a local connection (known as a S184 decision under the Housing Act 1996) - this will often rely on you providing us with more supporting information.
  • If we decide you are eligible for a longer term housing duty (known as an S184 decision), your interim accommodation placement will change to a temporary accommodation placement (after your 56 days in the 'relief' duty stage has ended) unless other circumstances change.
  • If by the end of your 56 days in 'relief' duty, we determine you are not homeless, not eligible for assistance, or not priority need, we will end your interim accommodation placement and you will need to make your own accommodation arrangements. 
  • If by the end of your 56 days in 'relief' duty we determine you are intentionally homeless and in priority need, we may continue to provide you with interim accommodation for a reasonable period whilst you make alternative accommodation arrangements (usually between 14 and 28 days depending on your circumstances).
• If you choose not to move into interim accommodation and we later determine through our investigations that you are eligible for a longer term housing duty (known as 'main' duty), we will make you a further accommodation offer (this time a temporary accommodation offer) after your 56 days in relief has ended.