The Temporary Accommodation Team can be contacted as below:
By telephone: 0191 643 6111
By Email : temporaryaccommodation@northtyneside.gov.uk
Homeless households are provided with temporary accommodation if it is considered that the authority has a duty to do so as assessed by a Housing Advice Officer, In order to access this accommodation they must have a housing advice assessment appointment. This can be arranged by contacting Housing Advice Team on 0345 2000 102 . The office opening hours are Monday – Thursday 9.00 – 4.30 pm and Friday 9.00 – 4.00 pm.
Accommodation will only be provided if a household is believed to be eligible, homeless and likely to be in priority need. This accommodation will be provided while their application is dealt with or if it has not been possible to prevent or relieve their homelessness and they have been assessed as homeless and in priority need.
This accommodation can be provided until the council’s statutory duty comes to an end – this could be for a number of reasons dependent upon the individual circumstances.
Where will the accommodation be?
Our temporary accommodation is provided through our social housing stock – we have 1, 2 and 3 bedroom properties which are located across the borough. In exceptional circumstances accommodation may be provided in bed and breakfast establishments or may be out of the area.
We will attempt to match your personal circumstances with our available properties - we will talk to you about any special needs you have, where you work, where your children attend school and what support you receive from friends and family. It is likely that compromises will need to be made as temporary accommodation is subject to availability at the time you are homeless.
How long will I be in temporary accommodation?
The time spent in temporary accommodation will depend very much on your individual circumstances. We do not keep people in temporary accommodation any longer than is necessary.
What is provided in temporary accommodation?
Our properties are clean, warm, safe and dry and are furnished to a basic standard. Beds, sofas, cooker, tables and chairs, cutlery, crockery, pots and pans, kitchen utensils and equipment are all provided.
Accommodation will be self contained and basically furnished. The property is warm, safe and secure. You will be given a set of keys for the property – please do not lose these as you will be charged for a replacement set.
What will I need to bring with me when moving in to temporary accommodation?
You should bring your own bedding – sheets, duvet, duvet cover, pillows, pillow cases, tea towels and bath towels. You should bring your clothes and your personal belongings. You should bring toys for any children you have – small things that will make the temporary accommodation more like ‘home’.
TV’s or radio’s are not provided in temporary accommodation – if you wish to bring your own television then you are welcome to do so however you are responsible for providing a TV licence.
Remember anything you bring with you to the temporary accommodation must be taken away with you on the day that you leave.
What can I not bring to temporary accommodation?
You cannot bring with you any large items of furniture. You must ensure that any electrical items you bring with you are safe. It is not possible to take pets into temporary accommodation (except assistance dogs). You should arrange for your pets to be temporarily looked after by friends or family.
Visitors
Visitors are welcome between the hours of at 8.30 am and 10.30 pm. You are responsible for the behaviour of all your visitors. There should be no visitors who stay overnight.
Licence Agreement
On booking into temporary accommodation you will be required to sign and conform to the terms of your licence agreement. The terms of this licence agreement are to ensure that everyone can enjoy as pleasant and peaceful stay as possible. Failure to adhere to these terms will result in your accommodation being cancelled.
What am I responsible for financially?
You must pay your accommodation charges (rent). The amount payable will vary according to your income therefore it is essential that you complete a housing benefit application at the point of booking in and you must provide staff with proof of all your income and identity on booking in. Without this proof of income you will not be granted Housing Benefit and you will be charged the full accommodation charge.
You must also complete your Council Tax registration and ensure that you make all payments you are advised you are liable for.
During your stay you must inform us of any changes in your circumstances eg if your income changes as this will affect the amount of your rent contribution. It is your responsibility to inform relevant agencies of your change of address.
Should you, your family members or your visitors cause any deliberate or wilful damage to the property or items in the property you will be held liable for the repair or replacement of such.
Support during your stay
We acknowledge that becoming homeless and living in temporary accommodation can be extremely difficult and stressful. We have a dedicated team of temporary accommodation officers that arrange and manage the accommodation. Once you have been booked into temporary accommodation you will be allocated a keyworker. This is the person who will mainly work with you during your stay, you can expect :
- Regular visits
- Referrals to other specialised services who may be able to help you.
- They will also help with your move on to permanent accommodation or to alternative temporary accommodation if this is more suitable to your circumstances
Transient Teacher
If you are a family with children aged 3-18 we can refer you to our Transient Teacher Service. They are able to offer support around maintaining attendance, changing schools - either when in temporary accommodation or when moving on, help with travel expenses, any problems that your children encounter during your stay in temporary accommodation.
What happens when I move out of temporary accommodation?
Once a date has been agreed for you to move out of temporary accommodation you must make preparations to leave on that date. You are responsible for ensuring the property is left in a clean and tidy condition, including the garden or courtyard area and ensuring that all rubbish is disposed of.
You must ensure that you leave the gas and electricity meters in credit to the same amount that was on them when you moved in to the property.
You must take all you personal belongings with you on the day you leave, anything you do not wish to take with you must be disposed of and we will charge you for the cost of disposal.
Your rent account must be cleared in full on the day you leave. If this is not possible you must make an agreement to make regular payments in order to clear this.
How did we do?
Thank you for using our service, we would be grateful if you would spare a few minutes to complete a short survey to help us monitor and improve the services we provide. To do this, please follow the link below to the Temporary Accommodation Survey:
Temporary Accommodation Satisfaction Survey
If you do not have internet access at home, there are computer facilities available for you to use free of charge in any North Tyneside Council library or Customer First Centre.