Finding emergency housing if you feel unsafe

Contact a domestic abuse organisation to get advice about your situation. Try contacting them when nobody is likely to disturb you. If you cannot do this at home, you could go to a friend’s house.  

What is domestic abuse? 

You may be able to find a safe space near you. UK Says No More works with pharmacies and banks to provide safe spaces in consultation rooms. It can be a way to find support or contact friends and family. 

You can enter your postcode to find one near you. 

Safe spaces locations (UK Says No More) 

You can get help by phone, text, email and live chat.  

Click the links to find out how, or call on these phone numbers: 

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline for women on 0808 2000 247 
• Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 
• Live Fear-Free Helpline in Wales on 0808 80 10 800 
• Sign Health for deaf people on 020 3947 2601 or text on 07800 003421 
• Respond for people with learning disabilities and autism on 020 7383 0700 
• Galop LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 999 5428 
• Karma Nirvana for honour-based abuse and forced marriage on 0800 5999 247 

Phone numbers starting in 0808 and 0800 are free. These helplines are often busy. You may be able to leave a voicemail to tell them how and when to call you safely. Or try calling again if you do not get through. 

Bright Sky is an app and website that provides practical support and information on how to respond to domestic abuse. It is available in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Polish and Welsh. 

Bright Sky app 

They will talk you through your options for leaving your home or see if you can stay in your home safely.  

You can access short-term emergency housing through:  

• your local council or 
• a referral to a refuge if you are experiencing domestic abuse 

Accommodation may not be in your area. You may have to move away. Accommodation may be a bed and breakfast, hostel or hotel. 

If you rent, you might be worried about your tenancy agreement. A support worker or housing officer can give you advice when you have moved into emergency housing. 

Referral to a refuge

A refuge is safe accommodation for people experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse.

If you are in this situation, call a domestic abuse organisation or helpline. An adviser can help you find a refuge space.

You can get a referral whether you rent or own your home. 

You can stay in a refuge while you look for longer-term housing options.

Get advice on domestic abuse

Support from your local council

If you are at risk of violence or domestic abuse, you may be classed as ‘legally homeless’. This means local councils must help you find safe accommodation or help you be safe in your home. This can be your local council or one in another area.

You must meet certain residence conditions for them to support you. There are different conditions for:

• British and Irish citizens 
• European Union citizens
• people who have been granted refugee status

The housing and homelessness charity Shelter has information for:

• people in asylum housing 
• families with children who cannot make a homeless application because of their immigration status

Check what council homeless help you can get (Shelter)

Getting emergency housing 

You will get emergency housing if you meet residence conditions and you are:

• pregnant or have children living with you
• homeless because of domestic abuse or violence 
• considered ‘vulnerable’, for example due to disability or serious health condition 

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

There are limited accommodation options, but councils must try to take your needs into account. This includes access needs and any health or care services you use regularly. The council may move you to another area to avoid seeing the person who abused you.

You may stay in a bed and breakfast or hotel to start with. But the local council has a duty to help you with long-term housing.

The council may not help further if you refuse the accommodation they offer. If it is unsuitable for you, it is best to accept the offer and then get legal advice.

Check if you are eligible for Civil Legal Aid (GOV.UK)

Help if you are homeless because of domestic abuse (Shelter)

You do not need to pay rent for emergency housing before you move in. If you have had to leave your home because you feel unsafe, the priority is moving somewhere else. 

When you have moved into emergency housing, you may be able to claim Housing Benefit to pay for rent for: 

• a place in a refuge or 
• emergency council housing   

It can take time for your claim to be processed and to receive benefits. 

You might have to pay service charges for your new housing, for example for cleaning or maintenance. You must pay for these from other income or benefits. You cannot use Housing Benefit. 

If you own your home, you may still be eligible for Housing Benefit for emergency housing. It depends on your situation. 

Housing benefit eligibility (GOV.UK) 

Help to claim benefits

Use an online benefits calculator 

Use a free online benefits calculator to: 

• find out what you are entitled to 
• see how changes would affect your benefits 

Benefits calculator (Turn2us) 

Evidence to claim benefits 

You may need to give the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) evidence that you have had to leave your home because of violence or abuse. This could include a letter or report from a: 

• charity you have contacted 
• health care professional 
• police officer 
• registered social worker 

Providing evidence of violence and abuse (GOV.UK) 

Benefits for rent on the home you have left 

If you move out of your rented home because of violence or abuse or the fear of it, you could get benefits to help pay the rent on: 

• the home you leave and  
• a space in a refuge or temporary housing 

You can claim benefits for rent on the home you leave for up to a year. You need to show an intention to return to your original home in the next 12 months. 

You do not need to decide immediately. You can say you intend to return and decide later. 

Claiming benefits for 2 homes (Shelter) 

Change of circumstances 

Moving to emergency housing when you claim benefits is called a ‘change of circumstances’. You must tell the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) about this. 

If you claim Universal Credit, tell your work coach. They may be able to pause your claimant commitment for a time.  

Change of circumstances on Universal Credit 

Benefits: report a change of circumstances (GOV.UK) 

Other financial help 

You might also be eligible for other financial assistance if you move into emergency housing or a refuge. 

Financial help to leave an abusive home 

If you need free benefits advice or support in person:  

Find an adviser (Advicelocal)  

Find a local benefits adviser (Turn2us)  

If you move into a refuge, the staff there should support you to start your claim.

If you decide to stay in your home, you can still access support. It may be possible to get an injunction because of domestic abuse. This is a court order to protect you and your children from the person who abused you. The injunction says who can stay in the home and who needs to leave.

Get an injunction if you have been the victim of domestic abuse (GOV.UK)

If you remain in your home, think about how you can stay safe. You can: 

• keep a bag of essential items in a safe place or with a neighbour, including forms of ID, bank statements, any letters about debt, a change of clothes, medications and medical information 
• stay in touch with your family and friends as much as possible 
• set up a code word or signal you can text someone close to you if you feel threatened 
• save emergency and helpline numbers in your phone, under different names if you can 
• have a small amount of cash on you 
• if you have a joint account, open a personal bank account 
• make a list of hostels and hotels outside your local area 
• make a safety plan in case you need to leave quickly 

Making a safety plan (Women’s Aid)

What you can do: Create a safety plan (ManKind Initiative)

Staying safe online (Safe Lives)