Temporary accommodation responsibilities depend on the facts, contract, country and insurance. Resolve the immediate safety need while obtaining advice on who must provide and pay for what.
Assess the household's needs
- Consider essential facilities, disability, children, work or school access and any pets.
- Establish whether part of the home remains safely usable or a move is necessary.
- Involve the council's housing service where appropriate, without assuming it removes the landlord's obligations.
Agree the practical terms
- State the accommodation, start date, expected duration and review date.
- Confirm who books and pays, including travel, storage or other agreed costs.
- Explain the treatment of rent and utilities with advice where needed, and keep the original tenancy position clear.
Manage changes and return
- Update the household when the repair programme changes.
- Check that the temporary placement remains suitable if the stay becomes longer.
- Base return on completed safety and repair checks, not only the contractor's preferred handover date.
Example: a two-night stay becomes two weeks
A fictional repair reveals hidden damage and extends the move. Review suitability and costs immediately, confirm the revised arrangement and update the household. The original short booking does not answer the needs of a much longer displacement.
What to do
- Assess the safety and usability of the home.
- Confirm suitable arrangements and costs with the relevant parties.
- Review the repair programme and return conditions.
Evidence to keep
- Assessment of why the home or rooms cannot be used.
- Accommodation agreement, insurer decisions, costs and return checks.
Sources and guidance
- Renting out property: making repairsUK Government · checked 20 October 2026
- Fitness of homes for human habitation: landlord guidanceWelsh Government · checked 20 October 2026
- Repairing Standard: statutory guidanceScottish Government · checked 20 October 2026
- Awaab’s Law: scope and requirementsScottish Government · checked 20 October 2026