When does the Council accommodate households?

Councils in England have a duty to secure accommodation for homeless households in priority need under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended).

Where a council decides that a person/household is owed a duty of interim accommodation, either because the council is considering their homeless application or because a decision has been made on their homeless application, they might spend time waiting in temporary accommodation until suitable secure accommodation becomes available. 

At times the council will also accommodate individuals or households where there isn’t a statutory duty but under a “power” to accommodate.  The council understands that options are limited for many households and the Council will help where it can, whilst more permanent or supported accommodation is sourced.

What accommodation do we use?

Exeter City Council currently has 89 units of temporary accommodation that is contracted with private landlords and Registered Social Landlords, and 41 units of Council owned accommodation across multiple properties.  Some of our temporary accommodation has shared facilities either in the form of a shared bathroom or kitchen but each household has access to at least a private bedroom.  Our second stage accommodation is predominately self-contained accommodation.

What happens when all the contracted accommodation is full?

When all contracted accommodation is full, we then have to use “spot purchase” hotel or bed and breakfast rooms.  If the Council has a duty to accommodate and the household has no one else, they can stay with then the Council has a duty to identify suitable temporary accommodation.  Whilst we try to ensure that accommodation is in Exeter, we often have to find placements outside of Exeter.

How can households reduce the length of time they might be in temporary accommodation?

For lots of households the Private Rented Sector will be the only option for permanent accommodation.  If households would like to reduce their time in temporary accommodation, then the main advice we can give is to start saving towards a deposit and rent in advance.  The Council will work with households to offer advice and assistance in identifying affordable housing and in some cases may be able to help towards rent in advance and/or deposits.  It is important to note that households will also need to save towards moving costs.