Bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless families: your rights

If you are homeless with children or are pregnant, the council may place you in bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation while it assesses your application and looks for something more suitable. You will find out your rights in B&B accommodation and the rules the council must follow.

Key facts

• Government figures show 42,640 households in England were owed a relief duty after being assessed as homeless in October to December 2025. Statutory homelessness in England, GOV.UK
• A further 33,630 households were owed a prevention duty after being assessed as threatened with homelessness in the same quarter. Statutory homelessness in England, GOV.UK

What is B&B accommodation in a homelessness context?

Bed and breakfast hotels and hostels are sometimes used by councils as temporary emergency accommodation for homeless households. They are intended as a short-term measure only, a place to stay while the council looks for more suitable temporary accommodation or a settled home.

Do councils have to house homeless families in B&Bs?

A council does not have to use B&B. It can use a range of temporary accommodation, self-contained flats, hostels, private lets arranged by the council, or local authority-owned temporary housing. However, when demand is high and nothing else is available, B&B is sometimes used.

What are the rules on how long you can stay in B&B?

Under the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2003, families with children or pregnant women should not be placed in B&B accommodation for more than 6 weeks in total. After 6 weeks, the council must move them to more suitable accommodation.

This 6-week limit applies only to households with dependent children or a pregnant woman. Single adults and childless couples do not have the same time limit, though the council must still ensure accommodation is suitable.

What if you have been in B&B for more than 6 weeks?

If the council has placed your family in B&B for more than 6 weeks, you can challenge this. Write to the housing team and point out that the 6-week limit has been exceeded. If the council does not act, you may be able to get legal advice and apply for a judicial review of the council's decision.

Contact a housing advice service, Shelter, Citizens Advice, or a local law centre, as early as possible if this applies to you.

What makes B&B accommodation unsuitable?

Accommodation may also be challenged as unsuitable regardless of length if it:

• Does not have basic facilities for the household's needs
• Is not safe, for example, because of poor conditions, dangerous facilities, or inadequate fire precautions
• Is a long way from schools, healthcare, or other services the family depends on
• Is overcrowded for the family's size

If you believe the accommodation is unsuitable, you can ask the council to review the decision and provide a reason in writing.

What about disrepair in B&B accommodation?

If you are placed in B&B accommodation by the council and the accommodation has serious disrepair, for example, no heating, damp, or unsafe conditions, you can report this. The council is responsible for ensuring the accommodation it places you in meets basic standards.

The relationship is different from a standard private tenancy. You are not in a formal private tenancy with a landlord in the usual sense. However, the accommodation must still be safe and suitable. If it is not, complain to the housing team in writing and, if necessary, contact environmental health.

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

We help tenants in private rented accommodation with housing disrepair claims. If you are in private rented accommodation (not B&B or emergency accommodation) and your landlord has not fixed disrepair, call us.

Call us on 0800 030 4669. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.

Sources

• Section 206, Housing Act 1996 (discharge of functions) (legislation.gov.uk)
• Section 210, Housing Act 1996 (suitability of accommodation) (legislation.gov.uk)