Getting permanent accommodation when you’re homeless

The council should offer you a permanent home when you're homeless for reasons out of your control. This is called being unintentionally homeless.

An offer of a permanent home must be suitable for your household’s needs. The council will usually only make 1 suitable offer.

When the council has to offer you a permanent home

After you make a homeless application, the council will send you a written decision. It will say if you’re entitled to a permanent home.

Check our advice on:

• making a homeless application

• getting a homeless decision from the council

There’s no time limit for the council to offer you a permanent home. How long it takes depends on your housing needs and the availability in your area. Larger cities often have longer waiting times.

You can stay in temporary accommodation while you wait.

Where you can be offered a permanent home

The council might ask you to choose which areas you’d prefer to live in. It’s best to pick as many areas as possible to help you get an offer faster.

The council does not have to offer you a home in an area you’ve chosen, but they must take into account any special circumstances that mean:

• you need to live in a specific area – for example, if your child has a disability that would make it difficult for them to move schools

• you cannot live in a specific area – for example, if you’re fleeing domestic abuse, you should not be offered a home near where your abuser lives

Tell the council about your needs

The council must take your and your family’s needs into account when offering you a permanent home.

The home they offer you must be big enough for your family and meet any health, disability or support needs.

Tell the council about your needs when you’re making a homeless application. If your needs change before you’re offered a permanent home, write to them to tell them about the change.

Getting an offer of permanent accommodation

The council will usually send you an offer when a suitable home becomes available.

They should tell you if there’s anything else you need to do to get a permanent home. Some councils may ask you to bid on homes that become available. This means you have to tell them which homes you’re interested in.

An offer must be given to you in writing, and tell you:

• if it’s the final offer they will make

• the name and contact number of the member of staff making the offer

• that if you refuse the final offer, the council will not have to help you anymore

• that you have the right to appeal the offer if it's unsuitable

• where to get independent advice about the offer

The council must give you a reasonable amount of time to consider if the offer is right for you. They cannot insist that you decide straight away.

If you've received an offer that you do not think is suitable, you can appeal. Check our advice on appealing an unsuitable offer.

Accepting a suitable offer

If you accept an offer of permanent accommodation you’ll need to sign a tenancy agreement.

The council must:

• tell you when you have to leave temporary accommodation

• tell you when you’re expected to move in

• help you apply for benefits to cover your new housing costs if you need them

• plan any work to make the home suitable for your needs before you move in

A permanent offer should be a Scottish secure tenancy

An offer of a permanent home will usually be with a Scottish secure tenancy (SST). These are sometimes called social tenancies.

The council will usually offer you a council tenancy. They can also offer you an SST with a housing association if they have no housing stock or nothing suitable. Councils sometimes calls this process a section 5 referral.

Council or housing association tenancies are very secure and do not have fixed terms. Check your rights in a Scottish secure tenancy.

Usually the home you’re offered will come unfurnished. Ask the council to help you with applying for a community care grant if you need furnishings.

If you’re not offered a Scottish secure tenancy

Sometimes the council can offer:

• a private residential tenancy, if it's suitable and affordable

• a short Scottish secure tenancy, if you have a history of antisocial behaviour or crime

• supported housing, if you need care for your health or you have drug or alcohol dependencies

Contact a Shelter Scotland adviser if you’ve been offered a different tenancy type and you’re not sure if it’s suitable for you.

Moving out of temporary accommodation

If you're going from temporary accommodation to permanent accommodation, you should be given enough time to organise moving.

If your belongings are in storage with the council, contact them and arrange to move things into your new home.

Check our advice on moving house. 

If you need help with costs

If you need white goods, carpets or furniture for your new home, apply for a community care grant. This can also help pay for the costs of moving.

If you get Housing Benefit, you might not be eligible for it in your new home. You might need to apply for Universal Credit instead.

To check what you’re entitled to and get help with applying, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

If you're charged overlapping rents

You could be charged for 2 rents if there's an overlap between your temporary accommodation ending and your permanent tenancy beginning.

It's best to prioritise the rent for the permanent home if you cannot cover both costs. This means you'll avoid the risk of having rent arrears in your new tenancy.

If your temporary accommodation is covered by Housing Benefit, it can keep being paid for up to 4 weeks after you move out. You'll still need to apply for benefits to pay the rent on your new home. Ask the council if you need help with this.