Getting alternative accommodation during repairs

You could get a temporary place to stay while repairs are done in your council or housing association home. This is called decant accommodation.

Ask your landlord for a copy of their decant policy to check if decant accommodation can be used in your situation. You could also get help with moving and other costs.

When you might need decant accommodation 

Ask for decant accommodation if there are serious repair problems that make your home unsafe to live in, like severe fire damage or unsafe electrics. 

You could also need decant accommodation if it's unsafe for you to live in your home during repair or maintenance work. This could include things like structural work.

Your landlord should consider your specific needs when deciding if it's safe for you to stay in your home.

Check our advice on repairs if you rent from the council or housing association.

If you're offered decant accommodation

Decant accommodation could be:

• a house or flat, similar to the one you usually live in

• a hotel, hostel or bed & breakfast - this is normally only if the work is expected to be completed quickly, or if it’s an emergency 

Ask your landlord to explain in writing:

• why you need to move to decant accommodation

• how much rent you'll pay while staying in decant accommodation

• what help they'll give you with the costs of moving

• what work will be completed

• what parts of your home will be affected

• if all of your home needs to be emptied or only part of it

• how they'll protect your belongings

• how long the work is likely to take

You can choose to stay with family or friends instead. You may still get help with costs from your landlord. 

Getting help with costs

Your landlord may help cover the costs of temporarily moving out of your home. These are sometimes called allowances. Costs might include:

• moving your belongings, appliances and furniture 

• redirecting your post

• food or laundry if your decant accommodation is something like a hotel

• replacing floors or redecorating

• installing necessary adaptations in your decant home 

• storage of any belongings you cannot take to your decant home

You might also get a one-off payment for inconvenience. Ask your landlord what they offer and ask to see a copy of their policy.

If the repair problems were caused by you

If your home is unsafe to live in because of a repair problem you caused, you can usually still get decant accommodation. 

You might not get the same help with costs that your landlord normally provides for decant accommodation. 

If you do not want to move to decant accommodation

Ask your landlord why it's not safe for the work to be done while you stay there.

If there's no safe way to do repairs while you live at home and you refuse to move out temporarily, your landlord could try to evict you permanently. It's best to come to an agreement with your landlord to avoid losing your home.

Check our advice on eviction if you rent from the council or a housing association.

Staying in decant accommodation

Decant accommodation is not a permanent home. You'll keep your original tenancy agreement and keep paying rent on your home.

You'll be asked to sign an agreement to return to your home when enough work is completed to make your home safe. This does not need to include redecoration or smaller repairs.

Your landlord could take legal action if you refuse to return. 

Ask your landlord if you want to stay in your decant accommodation permanently. Your landlord might not agree. If they do agree, you'll need to sign a new tenancy agreement.

If your landlord refuses decant accommodation

Check your tenancy agreement. If your contract says your landlord will offer decant in your situation, ask them to explain why they’re not providing it.

Ask for a copy of your landlord’s decant policy if they have one. Make a formal complaint if they are not following their policy. 

Check our advice on:

• council complaints

• housing association complaints

Get legal advice if your home is unsafe and your landlord is not helping. 

Getting emergency accommodation

If your home is unsafe to live in and your landlord refuses to give you decant accommodation, apply to the council as homeless and ask for emergency accommodation. Check our advice on getting homeless help when you cannot stay in your home.

You should not have to become homeless because of repair problems. It's your landlord’s responsibility to fix these.

The council’s homeless team might speak to your landlord to see if a solution can be found before they make a decision on your homeless application.