Interim scheme using empty council homes as temporary accommodation
In January, we introduced an interim scheme to use some council homes that become vacant between 19 January and 1 May as temporary accommodation for homeless households rather than being let to people on the city’s housing register.
We’re anticipating the short-term measure will make up to 80 empty homes available for temporary accommodation, and save in the region of £0.75 million over the coming year. However, it will cause delays for some people currently on the housing register bidding for homes.
Share your thoughts on the scheme
We’re now looking for residents’ views as part of our review of the interim scheme and the potential to extend the use of empty council homes as temporary accommodation when the interim scheme ends.
We’re particularly keen to hear from Brighton & Hove households on the housing register waiting for a council home or a transfer, households currently in temporary or emergency accommodation provided by Brighton & Hove City Council, and current Brighton & Hove council tenants and leaseholders.
Background
Please make sure to read the background information included below before taking the survey.
Phases
Background information
The aim of the interim scheme is to address the instability for households arising from nightly or short term accommodation, reduce the numbers of households needing to be placed outside of the city and reduce the significant spend on short term accommodation which does not represent either best value for the council or the accommodation that people need.
According to Shelter’s 2024 analysis, 3,580 people in the city are homeless – around one in every 77 residents. Nearly 40% of the those are children in homeless households.
That has led to a significant increase in the number of households needing temporary accommodation, with 2,150 households placed in temporary accommodation at the end of November 2025.
The priority for the accommodation is families with children, households currently placed outside the city, and those in nightly paid temporary accommodation where there will be demonstrated health or educational benefits.
Some empty homes are exempt from the policy – seniors housing properties, mobility-adapted properties and housing association properties. The council also retains the right to allocate homes to households on the housing register in certain exceptional circumstances, which are considered on a case-by-case basis.
The proposal being looked at is the option of continuing the use of vacant council homes as temporary accommodation for up to a maximum of 100 additional properties over a further 12 months. We estimate that would involve around 20% of the council homes that become available for letting over a year.