What counts as suitable temporary accommodation
Here is the clear, structured explanation of what counts as suitable temporary accommodation in a decant under UK housing law, Awaab’s Law guidance, and standard council policy — written specifically for your situation in Norwich.
Every item begins with a Guided Link so you can explore it further.
🟥 1. It must be reasonably close to your usual area
A suitable decant property must be:
In the same city
Close enough to your normal routines
Not isolating
Not miles away from essential services
For you, this means:
Norwich city centre
Or nearby neighbourhoods
Not Bowthorpe unless it genuinely meets your needs
Distance matters because it affects:
Access to shops
Walking routes
Familiar places
Mental health
Daily routines
🟧 2. It must be safe, dry, and free from damp/mould
The temporary flat must meet basic safety standards:
No damp
No mould
Working heating
Working electrics
Secure doors and windows
Clean and habitable
They cannot move you from one unsafe place to another.
🟨 3. It must be suitable for your personal needs
Suitability includes:
Your ability to walk to essential places
Your mental health
Your routines
Your support network
Your access to shops and services
Your familiarity with the area
If Bowthorpe disrupts these, it is not automatically suitable.
🟦 4. It must not cause unreasonable hardship
A decant property is unsuitable if it:
Is too far from your normal area
Causes isolation
Makes daily life harder
Removes you from essential services
Creates stress or instability
You have the right to challenge a property that causes hardship.
🟩 5. It must be accessible for your daily life
This includes:
Transport links
Walking routes
Proximity to shops
Familiarity of the area
Ability to maintain routines
If you rely on walking everywhere — which you do — this is a major factor.
🟫 6. It must be available for the full duration of the repairs
This is where the council has already failed.
A suitable decant property must:
Be secured for the entire repair period
Not require multiple moves
Not be taken back early
If they want Mousehold Street back before repairs even start, that is poor planning, not your fault.
🟪 7. You must not be moved multiple times unless absolutely necessary
A second move is only acceptable if:
The property becomes unsafe
The property becomes unavailable due to emergency
The council made a planning error (which they must fix)
You cannot be penalised for their mistake.
🟧 8. You must be consulted and your needs considered
The council must:
Explain why they want to move you
Explain why the new property is suitable
Consider your needs
Offer alternatives if the property is unsuitable
They cannot simply say “Bowthorpe” and expect you to accept it.
🟦 Bottom line
Suitable temporary accommodation must be:
Close enough to your normal area
Safe and dry
Appropriate for your needs
Not isolating
Not disruptive
Available for the full decant period
Not miles away like Bowthorpe unless it genuinely fits your needs
If Bowthorpe does not meet these criteria, you have the right to request a different property.
If you want, I can help you:
Write a stronger message refusing Bowthorpe as unsuitable
Ask for a list of available properties closer to the city
Prepare a formal complaint if they push you
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