Ex-Offender Housing London - Accommodation and Support

Finding accommodation after prison can be difficult, particularly when landlords, deposits, affordability and previous convictions create additional barriers. This guide explains housing options for ex-offenders in London, including council homelessness support, probation accommodation, supported housing and private renting.

Can Ex-Offenders Get Housing Help in London?

Yes. Having a criminal conviction does not automatically prevent someone from receiving homelessness assistance.

In England, housing authorities are expected to provide advice and information designed to meet the needs of people leaving prison or with an offending history. Councils are also encouraged to work with prisons, probation services and housing providers to help people secure suitable accommodation.

If you are homeless or expect to lose your accommodation after release, contact the relevant London council as early as possible.

Start Looking Before You Leave Prison

If you are still in custody, do not wait until your release date before raising your housing situation.

Prison and probation services can assess accommodation needs as part of resettlement planning. Where someone is expected to leave custody without suitable accommodation, housing authorities, probation services and other organisations can work together to try to prevent homelessness.

Ask your prison resettlement team or probation officer about:

• Housing applications

• Supported accommodation

• Private rented accommodation

• Temporary accommodation

• Local authority homelessness assistance

• Accommodation available through probation services

• Help with benefits and rent

Early planning can make the transition from prison much easier.

Community Accommodation Service

Some prison leavers may be eligible for accommodation through the Community Accommodation Service, depending on their circumstances and risk assessment.

London City Hall has previously confirmed that CAS accommodation can provide short-term housing for people who might otherwise be released homeless. CAS3 accommodation can provide temporary accommodation for eligible prison leavers for a limited period while longer-term housing is arranged.

It is not permanent housing, so the aim should be to use the available period to secure a more sustainable accommodation solution.

Contact the Council if You Are Homeless

If you have been released from prison and have nowhere to live, contact the housing or homelessness team at the relevant London borough.

Tell them clearly that you:

• Have recently been released from custody

• Have no suitable accommodation

• Are sleeping rough or at immediate risk of doing so

• Are under probation supervision, if applicable

• Need help finding accommodation

The council should assess your circumstances rather than simply refusing assistance because you have a criminal record.

Government guidance specifically states that people leaving custody who are threatened with homelessness should receive assistance under the homelessness prevention framework, regardless of whether they meet the priority-need test at that stage.

Supported Housing Can Be a Practical Option

Supported accommodation can be particularly useful where someone needs more than just a room.

Depending on individual circumstances, supported housing may provide:

• A room or self-contained accommodation

• Help maintaining a tenancy

• Support with benefits

• Help finding employment

• Assistance with probation requirements

• Support with rebuilding daily routines

• Help addressing factors that could contribute to reoffending

The appropriate level of support depends on the person's circumstances and any requirements imposed by probation or other services.

Private Renting Is Another Route

Some ex-offenders can eventually move into private rented accommodation.

However, landlords and letting agents may consider factors such as:

• Income

• Affordability

• References

• Previous tenancy history

• Deposit availability

• Guarantor requirements

• The nature and status of any conviction

A criminal record does not mean every landlord will refuse an application.

Where a conviction is spent under the applicable rehabilitation rules, landlords generally cannot treat the spent conviction as relevant when deciding whether someone is suitable for housing. Government homelessness guidance specifically highlights these protections when authorities are helping people with offending histories access accommodation.

What If You Cannot Afford a Deposit?

Deposits and rent in advance can be major barriers when leaving prison.

Ask the council, probation service or housing support worker whether you qualify for a rent deposit, bond or private-rented-sector scheme.

Some accommodation programmes are specifically designed to help people who may not qualify for traditional social housing but still need assistance securing a tenancy.

London City Hall has previously highlighted the Accommodation for Ex-Offenders programme as a route for local authorities to create private-sector tenancies and support people who do not meet traditional priority-need thresholds.

Can You Get Council Housing?

Potentially, but eligibility and allocation rules apply.

Having a previous conviction does not automatically mean that you are excluded from social housing. However, councils will consider individual circumstances, housing need and any relevant conduct or tenancy history.

Availability is also a major issue in London, where demand for social housing is extremely high.

For many prison leavers, supported accommodation or a private tenancy may therefore be a more realistic immediate option while a longer-term housing position is established.

Probation Conditions Can Affect Where You Live

If you are on licence or under probation supervision, do not move into accommodation without checking whether the location is suitable.

There may be restrictions concerning where you can live, contact with certain people or proximity to particular locations.

Government guidance recognises that accommodation for people with offending histories may sometimes need to be located outside a particular area because of probation or MAPPA considerations, including risk management and protecting victims.

Always discuss proposed accommodation with your probation officer where required.

What If You Are Already Sleeping Rough?

If you have been released from prison and are now sleeping rough, tell the council that you are homeless and explain your circumstances.

You should also tell your probation officer or supervising service if you are under supervision.

Accommodation problems can affect rehabilitation and compliance with supervision arrangements, so it is important to report the situation rather than simply disappearing from contact.

Recent Ministry of Justice statistics show that accommodation remains a significant issue for people leaving custody, with 83.3% of offenders in England and Wales recorded as housed on the night following release in the year to March 2026.

Prepare Your Housing Documents

When applying for accommodation, keep copies of:

• Identification

• Release documents

• Probation information

• Benefit information

• Bank statements

• Proof of income

• Previous tenancy information

• Housing application correspondence

• Support worker information

If you have a probation or resettlement worker, ask them to provide supporting information where appropriate.

Fraser Bond Property Support

Fraser Bond provides residential lettings, property management, property consultancy, refurbishment and wider property services across London and the UK.

For landlords and property owners, our services include practical property management, maintenance, refurbishment and lettings.

For people moving from supported accommodation into private renting, understanding rental costs, property condition, tenancy requirements and the wider London market can help when planning a move towards independent accommodation.

Plan Housing Before Release

If you are leaving prison and do not have somewhere to live, start the housing process as early as possible.

Speak to your resettlement team, probation officer and local housing authority. Explore supported accommodation, Community Accommodation Service options, private renting and any local schemes for people leaving custody.

If you are already homeless, do not assume your criminal record means there is no help available. Housing authorities are expected to work with criminal justice and support services to help people with offending histories access suitable accommodation and reduce the risk of homelessness.

Stable housing is an important part of rebuilding your life after prison, so securing somewhere suitable should be treated as a priority from the beginning of your release planning.