Seven day limit on unsuitable temporary accommodation in Scotland extended to cover all homeless applicants

New Scottish statutory instrument also includes temporary exemption from the limit for coronavirus-related placements in hotels and bed and breakfasts

New regulations have been issued in Scotland in relation to the limit on the length of stays in unsuitable temporary accommodation.

In force from 6 May 2020, the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020 (SSI.No.139/2020) amends the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) Order 2014 - that sets a seven day limit on the amount of time specified types of homeless households should spend in unsuitable temporary accommodation - by -

• extending the groups that the seven-day limit applies to from families with children and pregnant women to all homeless applicants unless there are exceptional circumstances; and
• creating a temporary exemption to the limit (that expire on 30 September 2020) in response to the coronavirus pandemic, to allow for temporary accommodation to be provided for homeless households by way of accommodation within hotels and bed and breakfasts for longer than seven days - so that local authorities can house people needing to self-isolate or otherwise comply with physical distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 outbreak.

SSI.No.139/2020 is available from legislation.gov.uk