Find out about temporary accommodation.
I am homeless and I need temporary accommodation
We will source emergency accommodation for you and your household, if you are:
- assessed as homeless,
- in priority need, and
- eligible for housing assistance
If you are at risk of homelessness, please contact our Homeless Prevention team to prevent the need for emergency accommodation.
When will I be contacted for placement?
We are currently experiencing unprecedented demand for temporary accommodation. This may affect how quickly we can place you in accommodation. However, we will make sure that you are contacted and placed before you become street homeless.
What will my temporary accommodation be like?
Unfortunately, demand on housing supply and temporary accommodation in Cardiff is incredibly high. We may not be able to tell you in advance of where you will be placed because of the demand pressures.
We are currently using a wide selection of accommodation and an offer of emergency accommodation is likely to be in hotel-type accommodation.
Depending on your needs, we may place you in a hostel or supported accommodation.
We work with all families to try and find housing in an area that is suitable for them. This is not always possible because of a severe shortage of accommodation. However, we will always make sure that you are not in an area of risk.
How long will I be in temporary accommodation?
Families may spend long periods in temporary accommodation because of the shortage of suitable accommodation.
How long you spend in temporary accommodation will depend on things like:
- how many areas you have selected to move into,
- the type of housing you need, and
- any adaptations you may need.
Please remember that any offer of permanent accommodation may be social housing or private rented accommodation.
We recommend you look for your own privately rented accommodation as soon as possible. This means you have as much choice as possible about where you want to live.
We will be happy to help you with payment for bond and rent in advance for a property. We can also help you search for accommodation.
Storage
If you have items that you cannot take with you, it would be a good idea to start thinking about whether friends or family can help you with your belongings. You could ask if anyone has a spare room or garage to safeguard your items.
If nobody can help, we may be able to help you to store your belongings. However, you will be charged for any cost incurred. Costs of storage can be very high, averaging around £50 per week, so you need to consider these costs before putting items into storage.
What happens if I am evicted from temporary accommodation?
You may be evicted from temporary accommodation because:
- you have broken a condition of your licence agreement or occupation contract,
- we no longer have a duty to help you, or
- you have refused a suitable offer of accommodation.
Depending on your situation, our LETS team may still be able to help you find alternative accommodation. Find out more about LETS.
If you have dependent children, you may also be referred to our Children’s Services department if you and your family are at risk of street homelessness.
