If your council has put you in temporary accommodation, it has to be suitable. Families with children should not be in a B&B for more than 6 weeks. Here is what your rights are and who to ask for help.
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Direct answer
If your council has placed you in temporary accommodation, the law says it has to be suitable for you and your family. A bed and breakfast (B&B) is not suitable for a family with children except as a last resort, and even then only for up to 6 weeks. If your temporary home is unsafe, too small, or far from your children's school and your work, you can ask the council to review it. For help, call Shelter free on 0808 800 4444. If the home you are in has damp, mould, or broken heating that is not being fixed, you may also have a disrepair claim, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
What "temporary accommodation" means
When you are homeless and the council has a duty to help you, it may place you somewhere to live while it sorts out a longer-term home. That place is called temporary accommodation. It might be a B&B, a hostel, or a self-contained flat.
Your home has to be suitable
The council cannot put you just anywhere. Under the rules in the government's Homelessness Code of Guidance, Chapter 17, the home has to be suitable for your household. The council should think about:
- how big your family is and whether the home is big enough
- any health needs, including disability
- how far it is from your children's school, your work, and your support
- how safe it is
The 6-week rule for families
If your household includes children or you are pregnant, the council should not put you in a B&B at all, unless there is genuinely nothing else. Even then, the law sets a limit of 6 weeks. If you have been in a B&B longer than that with children, that is usually unlawful, and you should get advice straight away. Shelter explains this rule here.
What to do if your temporary home is not suitable
- Tell the council in writing. Explain clearly why it is not suitable (too small, too far, unsafe, bad for a health condition).
- Ask for a suitability review. You have a right to ask the council to look again at its decision. There are time limits, so do not wait.
- Get free advice fast. Call Shelter on 0808 800 4444 or contact Citizens Advice. They can help you challenge an unsuitable placement.
What we can and cannot help with
Support for Tenants helps tenants make housing disrepair claims. We are not a homelessness service. So:
- For getting or challenging temporary accommodation: your council's housing options team, Shelter, and Citizens Advice are the right people.
- For disrepair in the home you are in now (damp, mould, leaks, no heating that the landlord or provider will not fix), you may have a claim. Call us free on 0800 030 4669, or send the short form, or message us on WhatsApp.
You will get an honest answer about whether you have a claim, with no pressure to go ahead.
Sources
- Section 193, Housing Act 1996 (main housing duty) (legislation.gov.uk)
- Section 210, Housing Act 1996 (suitability of accommodation) (legislation.gov.uk)
- Homelessness Code of Guidance, Chapter 17 (GOV.UK)
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 23 May 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.
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