Temporary accommodation
in Hammersmith & Fulham
- The facts
- Schemes
- Why we offer temporary accommodation
- Direct lettings
- Unhappy in temporary accommodation? (pdf 1.7MB)
Temporary accommodation is a very limited resource and is only offered to those in extreme circumstances. Being given temporary accommodation is not a short cut to being rehoused permanently.
There are already over 1200 households living in temporary accommodation.
Many of these live outside of the borough, because there are not enough temporary homes here.
The expected average wait for a permanent home for someone accepted on to the list today is four and a half years. This is much longer for families requiring three-bedrooms or more.
Temporary accommodation is very expensive. If you think you might become homeless view the housing options pages. Please tell us quickly, so we can try to stop you becoming homeless by contacting the Housing Options and Advice service. They will do everything they can to prevent you becoming homeless in the first place or refer you to get help to secure alternative settled housing by way of direct lettings in the private rented sector.
We have developed a wide range of temporary accommodation schemes for households in housing need.
These include:
- hostels
- properties leased from a private landlord
- voluntary sector housing
- properties leased from a housing association
- council stock as temporary accommodation
- bed and breakfast hotels.
Hostels
Hostels are usually furnished residential houses or purpose built accommodation with shared facilities, where you will need to provide your own household items.
Hostels are used as first stage emergency accommodation. Most hostels have no staff resident on site, but hostel managers visit regularly. Staff clean all communal areas and kitchens daily.
Private sector leasing schemes
Are properties leased from private landlords where residents are placed in this type of accommodation under non-secure tenancy agreements, which sets out the conditions of tenancy. The accommodation is usually unfurnished . Households can expect a management service including repairs, maintenance, provision of limited items of furniture and information on finding low cost furniture.
While living in one of these properties you are expected to pay your rent, council tax, and utility costs i.e. heating, lighting and water. Advice and practical help is given on claiming housing benefit before you are nominated to any of these schemes.
Housing Association Leasing Schemes
We work in partnership with housing associations to secure long term family size temporary accommodation to keep homeless families out of bed and breakfast hotels. Housing associations lease properties from the private sector, to which the council has full nomination rights. The housing association is the tenant's landlord, and are responsible for managing the tenancy. This is monitored by the council. You are responsible for the rent, council tax and utility costs. Advice and help with claiming housing benefit is provided by the housing association.
Bed & breakfast hotels
We only use bed and breakfast hotels as temporary accommodation for families with children in emergencies, and even then for no more than six weeks. We have significantly reduced our dependence on the use of shared bed and breakfast for families with children by securing more self-contained homes.
We recognise bed and breakfast accommodation is not ideal for some single vulnerable young people and we are addressing this. A number of self-contained studio style units have been developed within the bed and breakfast framework for single vulnerable people. These are known as self-contained hotels
Self-contained hotels
Offer good quality self-contained studio-style accommodation in bed and breakfasts with own cooking and washing facilities for single vulnerable people.
Voluntary sector housing
Are projects run by the voluntary sector working under contract to the council, where assistance and training can be given to help stabilise problems and learn skills to maintain a tenancy. The projects can be used to prevent homelessness and are for people living with one or more of the following:-
- Poor mental health
- Poor physical health
- Problems with alcohol or drugs
- A history of imprisonment or offending
- A history of sleeping rough
- Being aged 16 or 17 years old
Referrals can be made to such accommodation through the Placement and Assessment Team for Single Homeless (PATHS) whether or not the council has a duty to provide temporary accommodation
Temporary accommodation on license
Are usually furnished council properties and are rented out by way of a licence agreement as temporary accommodation. While living in one of these properties you are expected to pay your rent, council tax, and utility costs i.e. heating, lighting and water. Practical advice and assistance is given to enable residents to apply for housing benefits.
Why we offer temporary accommodation
Being placed into temporary accommodation does not mean you will be offered permanent social housing.
You may be offered temporary accommodation for the following reasons:-
- You need time while your housing options adviser works with you to explore what housing options best suit you. Your housing options adviser may advise and assist you on helping you to return to your current home looking for somewhere else to live or rent.
- The council may also offer you temporary accommodation while it carries out its enquiries and assesses your application for special housing assistance under housing law.
- The council may provide you with support while you are placed in temporary accommodation if you have identified support needs.
- The council may offer you temporary accommodation pending an offer of permanent accommodation. This is once investigations are completed and if the council has decided that it has a duty to rehouse you and your household.
Do you want more choice in your housing?
- Unhappy in your temporary accommodation?
- Want more choice in your accommodation?
- Like to move to another area (even out of London)?
- Worried about your housing situation?
If you agree with any of the above, read on - you might be interested in what the council has to offer you!
Why not consider the council’s direct lettings scheme which has all of the following benefits:
You can:
- take control of your housing
- choose where you want to live
- choose the type of property you want to live in
- view a number of properties with no obligation to move in
- prevent your homelessness
- get help with the deposit
- get housing benefit assistance
- avoid what you don’t like about staying in temporary
- accommodation
- be nominated to housing association managed properties
- on the scheme
- continue to stay on the housing register with your band C
- status and original priority date
- avoid a direct offer of social housing where you have no
- realistic choice on area, type, floor level and so on.
What is direct lettings?
Direct lettings gives you the chance to find accommodation in the private rented sector with assistance from the council.
What about the deposit?
Direct lettings offers to guarantee the deposit which is regulated by the Rent Office and the (soon to be introduced) local housing allowance.
What else does it offer?
Direct lettings may pay landlords and agents an incentive payment for accepting you on the scheme for one and two bed roomed properties.
Direct letting offers you the opportunity to be nominated to a property managed by a housing association, which it leases from the private rented sector.
Direct lettings offers you assistance with claiming housing benefits and ensuring the claim is processed quickly.
What happens to my housing application?
Once you leave your temporary accommodation and move into a direct lettings property, you will
- remain on the housing register in band C
- retain your priority date
- be able to continue to bid on LOCATA for your property of choice
Interested?
Contact:
The Projects & Procurement Team
Hammersmith & Fulham Council
The Housing Centre
77 Glenthorne Road
London W6 0LJ
Tel: 020 8753 1241
Email: propertytolet@lbhf.gov.uk
Happy in your temporary accommodation?
If you are happy in your temporary accommodation, remember to keep bidding on LOCATA for your secure accommodation!
» Download our Moving into Temporary Accommodation leaflet (pdf 1.7MB)
» Visit our Landlords' Services web page
