A Guide to Homelessness
Accommodation when you're homeless
If you have nowhere to stay, the council should offer you temporary accommodation.
Temporary accommodation
You should be offered temporary accommodation if:
you make a homeless application to the council, and
the council believes you are homeless and eligible for assistance, and
you have nowhere to stay.
Temporary accommodation once a decision is made
Whether you can stay in temporary accommodation will depend on what decision the council has made.
You are intentionally homeless - You should be allowed to continue to stay in your temporary accommodation long enough to give you a reasonable opportunity to find somewhere to stay.
You don’t have a local connection – The council will have to refer you to another council where you do have a local connection and you can stay in your temporary accommodation until the new council can move you to its own temporary accommodation.
You are entitled to permanent accommodation – You can remain in temporary accommodation until a suitable offer is made.
What will the accommodation be like?
The council could offer you temporary accommodation in a:
flat
house
bedsit
hostel
bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfasts or hostels are only to be used in an emergency. If you are offered this you should not have to stay there longer than 7 days.
The accommodation has to meet certain standards and should:
not be overcrowded
be wind and watertight
be in a state of good repair
meet the needs of you or your family
Get in touch with your homelessness officer if:
the temporary accommodation that you are in is not suitable for you or your families needs
you have been in a bed and breakfast or hostel for more than 7 days
If they don’t help, contact a Shelter Scotland adviser.
Permanent accommodation
Only certain types of accommodation count as 'permanent'. These are usually:
council tenancies
housing association tenancies
Permanent accommodation must:
not be overcrowded
not be a danger to your health (for example, too cold or damp)
meet any special needs you or your family may have (for example, it may need to be wheelchair accessible)
be reasonable for you to live in (for example, it shouldn't be in an area where you are at risk of violence).
You should consider any offer you receive carefully. If you are not happy with the offer or are unsure of your rights, get advice immediately. You may be offered a choice of more than one home, but this is not guaranteed.
If you need help contact a Shelter Scotland adviser.
Last updated: 29 September 2021
Housing laws differ between Scotland and England.
This content applies to Scotland only.
Get homeless help from the council
The council must help if you are homeless or likely to become homeless in the next two months.
Get emergency help from the council