Bed and breakfasts (B&Bs)
Find out about staying in a B&B if you're homeless.
What they're like
B&Bs offer basic temporary accommodation. Most are run as private businesses and what they offer varies. In a typical B&B you might get a:
private furnished bedroom
shared bathroom
shared kitchen or dining room
Some B&Bs have self contained rooms.
Some provide food like breakfast, but in others you need to cook for yourself.
Some B&Bs only provide rooms for homeless people. Some are also used by people on holiday or longer term residential guests.
When councils use B&Bs
Some councils use B&Bs as emergency housing while they look into your homeless situation.
The council should only place you in a B&B when no other emergency housing is available. It should try and move you to more suitable housing as soon as possible.
You can only be housed in a private B&B with a shared kitchen or bathroom for a maximum of 6 weeks if you're pregnant or have children.
How much they cost
B&B prices vary. You may have to pay up front unless you're placed there by the council.
Sometimes you can claim housing benefit or universal credit to help with the cost.
Last updated: 3 April 2018