What is temporary accommodation?

Enfield has over 7,600 families on the council's Housing Register and just over 2,600 households living in temporary accommodation.

Less than 15% of people on Enfield 's Housing Register are housed each year.

• A private property leased to Enfield Council and managed by the temporary accommodation team.
• A property leased to Enfield Council managed by accredited private agents.
• A private property leased to a Housing association.
• A hostel owned by Enfield Council.

In most cases households will remain in temporary accommodation until they find their own accommodation or are re-housed.  Temporary accommodation properties are leased from private landlords for a period of 2 or 3 years, but in many cases landlords will continue to renew their leases for further years.  You may be required to move to alternative temporary accommodation because the property needs to be returned to the owner or other exceptional circumstances.

Families can expect to stay in temporary accommodation for several years due to the lack of social rented housing.  Households can expect to wait 5-6 years for a 2 bedroom property and over 10 years for a 3 bedroom property.  Larger households will wait even longer.  There are several options available to you if you do not want to wait this long.

We will only make you one offer of temporary accommodation.  If you do not accept this offer it is very likely that you will have to find your own accommodation.