Your council or housing association must make your home safe in:

• 24 hours if there's an emergency hazard, like a gas leak or a burst pipe

• 5 working days if serious damp and mould could make someone in your home ill

Temporary housing if you have to move out

You still have to pay rent for your main home. But the temporary housing is free.

It must be suitable for:

• you and anyone who lives with you

• any children who stay with you at least 1 night a week

Your council or housing association must think about:

• how close the temporary housing is to your children's schools

• how close the temporary housing is to your workplace

• your needs in relation to a disability or medical condition

• how long you might have to stay there

For example, a hotel or B&B might be okay for overnight. But it would not be suitable if you have to stay there for a few weeks.

You may have to move back once your home is safe even if more work is needed to stop the problem coming back.

Use our letter templates if you have questions about the temporary housing.

You may prefer to:

• stay with friends or family

• stay in your home while works are done

Your council or housing association must give you information about reducing the risk to your health if you stay.

Moving out in other situations

You may have to move out of your home if it needs repairs such as:

• major structural work

• asbestos removal

• fire damage repairs

• flood damage repairs

Your council or housing association may not have to offer you somewhere to stay unless there is an emergency hazard. But many social landlords have a decant policy or temporary rehousing policy while other work is done.

Check your tenancy agreement to see if it says anything about temporary accommodation.

Before you move out, ask your landlord about:

• how long the work will take

• when you can move back

• paying rent in temporary housing

• if moving affects your housing benefit or universal credit

• how much they will pay for things like removal costs

Get your landlord's agreement in writing that you can move back to your home when repairs are finished.

Check their repairs and rehousing policy to make sure they follow it.

Compensation or inconvenience payments

Ask your council or housing association about help with extra costs if you have to stay somewhere else.

For example, transport, moving costs, food costs or compensation for time off work.

Check if your landlord has a policy on this and make sure they follow it.

Can your landlord force you to move out?

You usually have a choice if you want to stay in your home during repair work.

If you move out temporarily, you usually have the right to move back in once the work is done.

Sometimes your council or housing association may want you to move out permanently.

Secure and flexible council tenants must be offered somewhere else suitable to live.

Most housing association tenants will also be offered this.

You could also get a home loss payment if you have to move out permanently. For example, if your home is too damaged to be fixed.

If your home is being demolished or redeveloped there is a chance that your landlord will ask a court to evict you if you do not agree to move.

Get legal advice if you get a notice to leave from your landlord.