Accessing temporary accommodation

With the ongoing housing crisis across London, Bromley Council’s accommodation resources are scarce with most properties being in and around Dartford, Medway,and Maidstone. In recent weeks we have accommodated customers, further afield in Milton Keynes, Coventry, Birmingham, and Southend-On-Sea.

Bromley Council owns almost no housing stock and as a result are almost entirely reliant on private sector landlords and housing associations making properties available, to allow us to provide temporary accommodation. The council will meet its duty to you by offering the available temporary accommodation, taking into consideration any mitigating circumstances. However, it is important to know that at least 70 percent of this accommodation is outside of the Bromley area.

We acknowledge this can also be a challenge to those who work or who have school age children, as their journey time or travel route will need to change. It also presents difficulties for those having to move away from their family, local network, and familiar environments. Before you are made an offer, the property will be checked to ensure it is suitable. Often we will expect you to make some reasonable adjustments, like transferring schools or medical appointments closer to your temporary accommodation. You will usually receive only one offer of emergency accommodation to assist you, whilst you work with us to find a permanent housing solution. Sometimes you will be moved, if a more suitable property comes along.

You might be offered a self-contained property or a property with shared bathroom and kitchen with another household. You will not get to choose what type of property you are offered, nevertheless your needs and circumstances will be taken into consideration before the offer is made to you. If the council has accepted a main housing duty towards you, you may ask for a review of the suitability of your temporary accommodation offer, however we suggest you move into the property, whilst you await the outcome of this review. It is important to know that if you refuse a reasonable and suitable offer of accommodation, after the council has accepted a main housing duty towards you, the council will end their full homeless duty.

We offer all clients the most suitable properties available on the day and prioritise available properties in Bromley for customers with exceptionally high needs or with commitments that cannot be reasonably transferred elsewhere. Our officers will do their best to support you wherever your accommodation is located. If you have any support needs or should you wish to find your own private rented sector accommodation in an area of your choice, please do inform your housing options officer.