Temporary housing between homes: planning for a move or renovation

What counts as temporary housing between homes?

Wikipedia describes corporate housing as renting a furnished apartment, condo or home on a temporary basis, as an alternative to a hotel or an extended hotel stay. It says corporate housing is typically used for stays averaging one month or more, and lists individuals and relocating families among its users.

Serviced apartments and aparthotels overlap with that. Wikipedia's entry on serviced accommodation describes stays typically ranging from a few nights to several months, with utilities, housekeeping and internet access provided. Apartment hotels, it adds, are not under fixed contracts, though guests leave subject to the operator's minimum stay.

For a household in transition, the practical difference from a hotel is space to live: a kitchen, somewhere to wash clothes and rooms that are not a single bedroom. The other routes, a short let or a stay with family, trade those features for a lower upfront cost or more flexibility.

When does a home move need temporary housing?

Gaps open up when sale and purchase dates do not line up, when a lease ends before the next one begins, or when a completion is delayed. A furnished stay can bridge the gap without forcing you to commit to a long contract, which is the main reason people look for temporary housing between homes at all. The shorter the gap, the more a flexible nightly or weekly booking makes sense; the longer it runs, the more a monthly arrangement is likely to suit.

Timing the admin matters as much as the bed. Northern Ireland's government guide, nidirect, advises holding off on telling organisations your new address until contracts are exchanged, since the sale could collapse. It also notes that mail redirection can take ten days to set up and that meters should be read at both properties on moving day.

If you will not be in the new home on the day your mail starts to be redirected, ask where it will go, and decide whether the temporary address or a trusted person's address is better. The guide to serviced apartments versus a rental lease explains how the two arrangements differ.

Do you need temporary housing during a renovation?

Not always. A trade source, Book a Builder, suggests a simple test: consider moving out if your household will lose its only kitchen, bathroom, power or water for several consecutive days. It lists staying as more realistic when work can be done room by room, one bathroom stays usable, a temporary kitchen is possible, no major structural work is involved and the timeline is under eight weeks.

It points to full rewires, central heating replacement, structural changes such as removing load-bearing walls, extensions affecting main living space and suspected asbestos removal as reasons to move out. It also lists babies, children, elderly residents and anyone with respiratory conditions or reduced mobility among warning signs.

The US Environmental Protection Agency tells renters that once work starts, they should keep their family safe by staying out of the work area, and that renovation dust can be harmful to adults and children. Ask your contractor for their view, and treat the safety questions as theirs to answer, not this guide's. A partial move can also work: Book a Builder notes that you may only need to leave for the most disruptive stages, such as demolition, structural work and first-fix services, and return once those are done.

How long do you need temporary housing, and what if the dates slip?

Book Builder's guide lists programmes running beyond roughly 10 to 12 weeks as a warning sign for staying put, and says phased work on an occupied home often takes longer, giving an indicative extension of 20 to 50 per cent that is not guaranteed. It also advises allowing several days after completion for cleaning, snagging and restoring services before you move back.

The lesson for housing is to plan a buffer. Ask for a written programme from your builder or solicitor, then choose temporary housing between homes that can extend. If the stay is for a renovation, ask also whether the quote assumes the property is occupied or empty, since that changes how long the work may take. Look at the minimum stay, the cost of extra nights, notice to leave early and what happens if the apartment is not free for the days you need.

The European Consumer Centre network warns that cheaper non-refundable rates may limit your options if plans change, and that cancellation fees usually rise as arrival approaches. For a stay where the end date is uncertain, the extra cost of a flexible rate can be the sensible trade. See aparthotel cancellation policies explained.

What should you look for in temporary housing between homes?

Look first at daily routine when choosing temporary housing between homes. If children need to get to school or you need to commute, location comes before the specification. The guide to short stay serviced apartments and the one on monthly serviced apartments explain how shorter and longer bookings differ.

Wikipedia says apartment hotels typically provide a kitchen with at least a sink, refrigerator, microwave oven and stovetop, and self-serve laundry. If you will be cooking for a family, ask about the exact equipment, oven size and fridge space.

If you want to stay in your own area during a renovation, search the hub for your city, for example aparthotels and serviced apartments in London, Manchester or Sydney, and compare areas near your home, work and school. Staying close keeps routines intact and makes it easier to check on the work.

Think about sleep and space too. A family of four in a one-bedroom flat for two months will feel the squeeze, so count bedrooms and bathrooms rather than relying on a maximum-occupancy figure. Households with children or pets have extra checks. See travelling with kids in aparthotels and pet-friendly aparthotels for what to ask about cots, safety and animal policies.

• Kitchen, laundry and enough bedrooms for everyone staying.
• Commute to work, school or the renovation site.
• Parking or storage if you are bringing a car or boxes.
• Internet that works for remote work.
• Minimum stay, extension rules and notice to leave early.
• Cleaning schedule and who is responsible for rubbish and bins.

Who pays for temporary housing during a move or renovation?

It depends on your situation, and this guide cannot say. Some English councils offer tenants temporary accommodation during major works, and their rules differ. Sandwell Council says tenants are responsible for the charges for temporary accommodation until they move back, and that they do not pay rent and council tax on both properties. Oxford City Council says that in most cases tenants pay the lower rent and that it can arrange removals and storage.

Those are examples of how one type of landlord handles it, not general rules. Homeowners should check their own insurance policy or ask their insurer directly. Book a Builder advises telling your insurer before work begins, especially if the property may be empty for an extended period.

Tenants should ask their landlord, housing association or local authority in writing, and ask whether any rent or council tax arrangement applies while they are away. Whatever the source, keep receipts and written confirmation of what has been agreed.

What admin do people forget when moving into temporary housing?

Belongings are the first thing. Oxford City Council says that if a full move is required, tenants need to arrange to move their belongings, with advice available on moving, storing or disposing of them. For your own move, decide early what goes to storage and what comes with you. Pack a bag for the first week as if for a long trip: documents, chargers, medication, school items and the kitchen basics you cannot live without.

Then deal with services. Book a Builder suggests agreeing a written site plan with your contractor covering access, working hours, shutdowns and variations. Keep a spare set of keys with someone you trust so the builder can access the home while you are away.

The table below is a simple order of play. It is not exhaustive, but it covers the points that most often cause stress.