Temporary Accommodation · West Sussex County Council (Jul 2026)

Temporary Accommodation in West Sussex

Early Engagement & Soft Market Testing – Invitation to Providers

Please note that is not the commencement of a procurement process and this paper is for the purpose of market engagement only. Should a procurement process follow, a separate notice and documents will be issued.

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) is continuing to explore options to expand and improve temporary accommodation across the county, with a strong focus on promoting and safeguarding the wellbeing of people who are homeless, as well as refugees and migrants in need of housing support.

We are particularly interested in working with providers offering privately owned accommodation and independent settings, alongside more traditional provision. Due to increasing demand, we are now actively inviting accommodation providers and property owners to come forward and engage with us.

The Council is seeking to engage with providers who can secure or supply temporary and emergency accommodation, as defined by Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, for individuals and households experiencing homelessness. This engagement will help inform a potential future procurement process.

The Refugee Resettlement & Migration Service at WSCC works closely with central government, including the Home Office, to support refugees and migrants to safely resettle and integrate into local communities. As demand for accommodation continues to grow—including for people arriving from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan, and other contexts—we are keen to build partnerships that increase the availability of safe, suitable, and sustainable housing across West Sussex.

Through this early engagement and soft market testing exercise, WSCC aims to better understand the market, including capacity, interest, and the range of providers that may be able to contribute.

We are particularly interested in hearing from providers who can offer the following types of accommodation:

1. Temporary Accommodation Houses – For individuals and families, including those with children, who are homeless or part of refugee and migrant resettlement schemes.
2. Rooms in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) – Suitable for individuals, including refugees and migrants.
3. Temporary Access Beds – Specifically for young people aged 16–17.
4. Unregistered Accommodation – To support a range of needs within the migrant and refugee community.
5. Longer-Term Accommodation – Self-contained units such as flats to provide more stable housing solutions.
6. Accommodation Requiring Refurbishment – Properties that could be brought up to standard with investment and used to support accommodation needs.

Call to Providers

If you are a landlord, organisation, or accommodation provider with access to suitable properties—or are interested in working with WSCC to develop or bring properties into use—we strongly encourage you to get in touch. We are keen to collaborate with both existing and new partners to respond to the growing need for accommodation in the county.

This engagement is informal and designed to help shape future commissioning opportunities. It also provides an opportunity for providers to share insights, discuss potential models of delivery, and explore partnership working with the Council.

Please submit your completed response or expression of interest via email to [email protected] by Friday 31st July 2026.

Following this initial stage, we will contact interested parties to continue the conversation, gather feedback, and explore opportunities to work together.