You can stay in temporary accommodation at least until the council makes a decision on your homeless application.

If they decide you're unintentionally homeless, you can stay in temporary accommodation until you're offered a permanent home. There's no time limit on how long this can take. Ask the council what the average waiting time is for a household with your needs.

When you can be asked to leave

You can be asked to leave your temporary accommodation if the council decides you're:

• not eligible for assistance, due to immigration conditions

• not homeless, because you have somewhere reasonable to live

• intentionally homeless, and you've been given help and time to find your own housing

You can also be asked to leave temporary accommodation because of your actions, for example if:

• the council has offered you suitable permanent accommodation but you’ve refused it

• you’ve broken the rules of the accommodation provider, such as smoking indoors

• you’re not staying in the temporary accommodation

• you’ve acted antisocially or unlawfully in the accommodation

Get advice if you’re being asked to leave with nowhere suitable to go.

If you’re waiting for permanent accommodation

If the council gives you an unintentionally homeless decision, meaning you became homeless for reasons out of your control, they must offer you a permanent home.

There’s no set time frame for when the council has to offer you a permanent home. They must make an offer when a suitable home for you becomes available.

How long it takes depends on your housing needs and availability in your area. You may have to wait longer if you:

• applied as homeless in a larger city where there are lots of people waiting for homes, like Glasgow or Edinburgh

• have a large family

• need a home that is adapted for your needs or you need to be on the ground floor

• need to be in a specific area where there is not a lot of housing stock

You can stay in temporary accommodation while you wait for an offer.

When telling the council about your needs, try to select as many types of homes in as many areas as possible. This could reduce the amount of time you’re in temporary accommodation.

Check our advice on getting permanent accommodation when you’re homeless.

Check your other housing options

Depending on where you want to live, you can also apply to other councils and housing associations to be on their general housing waitlist.

You can apply for social housing anywhere in Scotland as long as you’re at least 16 years old, even if you’re in temporary accommodation. Check our advice on applying for social housing.

When to get advice

Contact a Shelter Scotland adviser if the council is:

• telling you to leave temporary accommodation with no help and nowhere to go

• saying you’ll wait too long for a permanent offer so you should not make a homeless application

• taking too long to offer you a permanent home, based on the usual waiting times for your area

An adviser can help you look into your situation and your options.