Accommodation offers
Where the Homeless Prevention and Advice Service (HPAS) determines that Newham Council owes you the Main Housing Duty, accommodation will be provided until that duty ends. This accommodation is called 'temporary accommodation'.
Newham Council will seek to find you settled accommodation. There is no set timeframe for how long you will wait in temporary accommodation until settled accommodation is offered to you. This is determined by availability of properties and what is deemed as suitable accommodation for you. Most households wait in temporary accommodation for several years before settled accommodation is offered.
The Council will determine what accommodation would be suitable for your household by considering several factors including, but not limited to, household size, family composition, health and support requirements, affordability, work arrangements and education provision.
Suitable accommodation offered is likely to be private rented accommodation. This is because there is very limited social housing available in Newham meaning private rented accommodation is the most practical way to a settled home. Offers will be made as outlined in the Placements Policy.
From April 2026 all tenants in the private rented sector gained significant new rights. This makes private accommodation more secure with rights closer to those in social housing. You cannot be evicted due to ‘no-fault’ and rent increases are controlled. For more information see Renters’ Rights Act 2025: What it means for tenants – Renters' Rights Act – Newham Council.
You will be made one offer of suitable settled accommodation, which you will have the opportunity to view before accepting it. This accommodation will be found on your behalf and will meet the requirements identified through the suitability assessment of your household's needs. No further offers will be made unless the initial offer is found to be unsuitable. If you refuse an offer of accommodation the Council believes is suitable, the Main Duty to you may be ended and your temporary accommodation will come to an end.
Many residents find that the best way to secure settled accommodation of their choice is to find it themselves and to secure it with the Council’s support. All residents in temporary accommodation can do this but you must not sign any documents or pay any money as the Council will need to verify whether the property is suitable and affordable for you. Finding property yourself gives you a choice about where you live as well as ensuring your priorities are met. If the Main Housing Duty is owed to you and you have found a private rented property you think is suitable for your household, please complete the Property Identified by Resident Form and return it to the PRS Solutions Team.
See our frequently asked questions page for more information about private rented accommodation and why this is a good option for you.
