Temporary accommodation

We can help you stay in your home or find you somewhere else to live so you do not become homeless.

Eligibility for emergency housing

Emergency housing is short-term accommodation we can provide while we assess your situation and decide if you qualify for longer-term housing.

You can only get emergency housing if you:

are legally homeless (for example, if you have been evicted or cannot stay in your home for safety reasons)
meet immigration conditions (some restrictions apply depending on your immigration status)
have a priority need (this includes people who are vulnerable, have children or have other special reasons - you can check for more details on the Shelter UK website)

If you qualify and seem eligible for long-term housing, we may offer temporary housing while we assess your case.

Understanding temporary accommodation

Temporary accommodation gives you a place to stay while you look for a permanent home.

It can include:

houses or flats
bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation
places in or outside of West Northamptonshire depending on availability

We aim to provide self-contained housing, but sometimes you may have to share kitchen or bathroom facilities with others.

If you have somewhere safe to stay in the short term, let your housing officer know. We may be able to speak to your landlord, family, or friends to help you stay there a bit longer.

If you are homeless or worried about losing your home, contact the Housing Options team on 0300 126 7000.

If we are already helping you with housing, contact your housing officer if your situation has become more urgent.

What you must do while in temporary accommodation

You will usually need to pay something towards the cost of your temporary accommodation. We will tell you how much.

If you are eligible for Housing Benefit, we will help you fill in the forms as soon as possible.

You must also pay for:

your own council tax
a TV licence if you watch live TV
any other extra charges

Providing information for your homeless application

Your housing officer may ask for documents to help assess your situation.

Please give them:

proof of identity (passport or driving licence)
bank statements
medical documents (if relevant to your housing need)
evidence of why you lost your home

If you do not have these, let your housing officer know as soon as possible so they can help.

Look for a permanent home

While you stay in temporary accommodation it is important that you work with your Housing Options Officer to find a suitable permanent home.

There is a high demand for Council and housing association homes (social housing). This means it can take a long time to get rehoused into social housing. You can find information about applying for a longer term council or housing association home.

If you do want to apply for a longer term council or housing association home, you must also complete a housing register application form. This is separate from and in addition to your homeless application.

If you do not apply, you will not be able to apply for a longer term council or housing association home. If you need help with this, please tell your housing officer as soon as possible.

Due to the high demand for social housing we would recommend that you also look at all other options to find a home longer term home.

Rules of the accommodation

When you move in, your housing officer will explain the rules of your temporary accommodation.

These may include:

following behaviour guidelines (being respectful to neighbours and staff)
not having visitors to stay (if your agreement does not allow it)
paying rent on time
using the accommodation as your main address

If you do not follow these rules, you may be evicted.

You could be evicted for:

causing a nuisance to neighbours
breaking the terms of your agreement (bringing in visitors when not allowed)
not paying your rent or often paying it late
refusing an offer of suitable permanent housing

Eviction from temporary accommodation may affect any future housing support you receive.

Furniture and belongings

You probably will not be able to take all of your belongings into temporary accommodation, so you will need to arrange for them to be stored.

Some temporary accommodation is fully furnished, some is partly furnished and some is unfurnished. If you need help with furniture or storage, speak to your housing officer.

Pets

We are not able to accommodate pets in most of our temporary accommodation. You may need to arrange for your pets to be looked after by friends, family or an animal charity.

If you are having difficulties with this, please speak to your housing officer.

Next steps

We need to make a decision about your homelessness application before we can decide if we have a legal duty to house you for the long term.

If we decide that we do have this duty, we may offer you a home in private rented housing, or in a council or housing association home. More information about making a housing register application can be found on our join the housing register web page.

Any permanent home we offer could be anywhere in West Northants. It must be suitable for your needs and something you can afford.

If we decide that we do not have a duty to house you for the long term, you will need to leave your temporary accommodation and find somewhere else to live. We will give you notice before you have to leave. We will also give you advice and help to find your own place.

Last updated 16 April 2025