Prison Release Housing Support UK - Finding Safe Accommodation After Prison

Leaving prison without a place to live can make resettlement much harder. Prison release housing support in the UK can include help from probation, prison resettlement teams, local authorities and accommodation providers to arrange temporary or longer-term housing.

Planning accommodation before release is important. In England, prisons and probation services have responsibilities to refer people who may be homeless or at risk of homelessness to local housing authorities, with consent.

Start Housing Planning Before Release

Housing should be discussed well before the release date rather than waiting until the person walks out of prison.

A prison resettlement team can help assess whether the individual has somewhere suitable to live and identify housing problems that need to be addressed. This may include:

• Returning to an existing family home

• Finding supported accommodation

• Applying for social housing

• Finding private rented accommodation

• Arranging temporary accommodation

• Addressing rent arrears or previous tenancy problems

• Connecting with probation and local housing services

The government recommends early accommodation planning because suitable housing can help support successful resettlement and reduce the risk of homelessness after release.

Community Accommodation Service for Prison Leavers

For eligible people leaving prison without suitable accommodation, the Community Accommodation Service can provide different levels of temporary housing support.

CAS1 provides accommodation through Approved Premises for people who require a higher level of supervision. CAS2 provides short-term accommodation for certain people who do not have suitable housing, including some people on licence or at risk of recall because they have lost accommodation.

CAS3 is particularly relevant to prison leavers who would otherwise be homeless. It provides transitional accommodation for up to 84 nights, alongside support intended to help the individual move towards settled accommodation.

Temporary accommodation should therefore be viewed as a stepping stone rather than necessarily a permanent housing solution.

Can the Council Help Someone Leaving Prison?

Yes. Someone leaving prison who is homeless or at risk of homelessness can approach the relevant local authority for housing assistance.

In England, prisons and probation services are among the organisations covered by the homelessness duty to refer. This allows a person who may become homeless within 56 days to be referred to a local housing authority, with their consent.

The council will consider the person's circumstances and determine what homelessness assistance may be available. Depending on the situation, this could involve homelessness prevention, temporary accommodation or assistance with finding longer-term housing.

Private Rented Housing After Prison

Private renting can provide a route into more stable accommodation, particularly where social housing is unavailable or waiting lists are lengthy.

However, former prisoners can face practical barriers such as:

• Limited income

• Difficulty paying a deposit

• Previous rent arrears

• Lack of references

• Benefit affordability

• Landlord concerns about an applicant's circumstances

• Restrictions associated with probation or licence conditions

A realistic rental budget is important. Before agreeing to a property, the applicant should understand the rent, deposit, bills, tenancy terms and any additional requirements.

Where appropriate, a property professional can also help landlords and prospective tenants understand the practical requirements of arranging a suitable tenancy.

Universal Credit and Housing Costs

Financial support is an important part of securing accommodation after prison.

A person cannot normally make a Universal Credit claim while they are still serving a prison sentence, but they can prepare the information and documentation needed before release. Prison work coaches and resettlement teams can help with this process.

Universal Credit can include support towards eligible housing costs once the person is living in suitable accommodation. The amount available depends on the individual's circumstances and type of housing.

This makes benefits planning an important part of prison release housing support, particularly where the person has little or no income immediately after release.

Supported Housing for Prison Leavers

Supported housing can be appropriate where someone needs more than simply a room or tenancy.

Depending on availability and eligibility, supported accommodation may provide a combination of housing and practical support with areas such as:

• Maintaining a tenancy

• Employment

• Benefits

• Substance misuse recovery

• Daily living skills

• Probation requirements

• Rebuilding links with family and community

• Moving into independent accommodation

The appropriate option will depend on the individual's risk level, support needs, finances and local availability.

What If Someone Is Homeless on the Day of Release?

This should be raised with the prison and probation team before release whenever possible.

A person should not wait until release day to explain that they have nowhere to go. Early notification gives the relevant services more time to investigate temporary accommodation, council assistance, supported housing or other housing options.

Recent Ministry of Justice figures show that 82.9% of offenders in England were housed on the night following release in the year to March 2026, while the government continues to work towards reducing homelessness among prison leavers.

Finding Longer-Term Accommodation

Temporary accommodation can provide stability immediately after release, but the next objective should usually be suitable settled housing.

Depending on circumstances, longer-term options may include:

• Private rented accommodation

• Social housing

• Supported accommodation

• Returning to family

• Specialist housing

• A move into independent accommodation after transitional support

The right route depends on affordability, availability, housing eligibility, probation conditions and the individual's support requirements.

How Fraser Bond Can Help With Housing Requirements

Fraser Bond supports property owners, landlords and individuals dealing with a wide range of UK property and accommodation requirements.

For prison leavers seeking private rented accommodation, the practical process can involve identifying suitable properties, assessing affordability, understanding tenancy requirements and coordinating the move into appropriate housing.

For landlords and property owners, Fraser Bond can also provide support with property management, maintenance, refurbishment and the operational requirements associated with preparing properties for occupation.

The most effective housing solution is one that is financially realistic, suitable for the person's circumstances and capable of providing stability beyond the first few weeks after release.

Plan Housing Before the Release Date

Prison release housing support works best when accommodation is treated as part of the wider resettlement plan rather than as an emergency problem on release day.

Starting early gives probation, resettlement teams, councils, housing providers and other relevant organisations more opportunity to identify suitable options and address problems before they become homelessness.

For individuals moving towards private rented accommodation, professional property support can also make the process more structured and manageable.