Temporary accommodation

Procurement policy

The Temporary Accommodation Procurement Policy for the Royal Borough of Kingston aims to secure enough housing units each year to meet anticipated demand from homeless households. Due to a lack of council-owned housing, the borough primarily relies on privately-owned properties, both within and outside the borough, to fulfil its obligations. 

The council prioritises procuring properties within Kingston but will expand to nearby areas if local options are insufficient. Rising rental costs and market challenges often require the council to consider affordable options further afield, especially as local temporary accommodation costs have increased significantly.

To ensure quality and affordability, the council focuses on securing long-term leases rather than costlier nightly or emergency accommodations. They apply a stringent property assessment process, ensuring compliance with safety standards and best value for council resources.

If you are a private landlord and are interested in letting your property to us, view our No fee, guaranteed rent service - private sector leasing page for more information and how to contact us.

Placement policy

Our Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy explains how Kingston Council will decide where to place people who need temporary housing.

We must follow the law and make sure that the accommodation we offer is suitable for each person’s needs.

What we aim to do

• We want to provide temporary housing in Kingston whenever possible.
• Sometimes, we may need to place people outside Kingston if there is no suitable housing available.
• We prioritise people based on their needs, such as health, safety, and family circumstances.

How we decide where to place you

• We will try to place you in Kingston if you have strong reasons to stay, like needing to be close to your job, school, or healthcare.
• If there is no available housing in Kingston, we will look for housing in nearby areas that are still convenient for you.
• If we can't find anything close by, we may need to place you further away, but we will consider how this might affect your daily life.

Who gets priority

You may get priority to stay in Kingston if:

• you or a family member have a serious health condition or disability and need specific care or treatment in Kingston.
• your child has special educational needs that are best supported in a Kingston school.
• you or a family member rely on a care package that would be hard to move.
• you or a family member have a job in Kingston, and moving far away would make it hard to keep your job.

Out of area placements

If we need to place you outside Kingston, we will:

• try to find a place as close as possible.
• consider things like travel costs, school, work, and your overall well-being.
• avoid placing you in areas where you might be at risk, like places where you have faced violence or threats before.

Special considerations

We will also think about your family situation, such as:

• Whether you have young children or other dependents.
• If you have pets, especially if they are assistance animals.
• Your financial situation, to ensure the housing we offer is affordable.

Terms and conditions

When you are given temporary accommodation, you will need to follow the rules set out in your licence or occupancy agreement.

Behaviour

We do not allow any form of antisocial behaviour from you, your family, or visitors. This includes things like:

• Causing noise or disturbances
• Damaging the property
• Engaging in illegal activities

Consequences

If you break these rules, the Council may end your temporary accommodation, and you may not be given another place to stay.

What Happens Next

If we offer you a place, you have the right to ask for a review if you believe the accommodation is not suitable.

We will continue to check that the housing we provide meets your needs, especially if your situation changes.

Temporary Accommodation Procurement & Placement Policy September 2024