PAWP | Housing & Homelessness Support
Help when housing problems put your pet’s future at risk
Losing your home, facing eviction or being offered accommodation that will not accept your pet can create difficult choices.
PAWP — The People & Animal Welfare Project — brings together housing information, specialist services and practical support pathways that may help people and their companion animals remain together wherever safely possible.
This guide covers dogs, cats and other companion animals. Some specialist services have restrictions on the species they can support.
Seek housing advice as early as possible. You do not have to wait until you are sleeping rough to ask for help.
Are you homeless tonight?
If you have nowhere safe to stay, contact your local council’s homelessness or housing options service immediately.
Ask about emergency or out-of-hours housing assistance if the council offices are closed.
Explain where you are, who is with you, whether you have somewhere safe to stay and that you have a companion animal.
Tell the housing service what type of pet you have and explain any important animal welfare, disability or safeguarding needs.
If somebody is in immediate danger, call 999. PAWP is not an emergency accommodation or crisis-response service.
People and pets matter
Housing problems should not automatically mean losing your pet
People experience housing insecurity for many reasons, including eviction, relationship breakdown, domestic abuse, illness, loss of income and accommodation restrictions affecting pets.
You may be:
- Facing eviction or repossession
- Unable to afford your rent
- Staying temporarily with friends or family
- Sleeping in a vehicle or another unsafe place
- Leaving an abusive relationship
- Offered accommodation that does not accept pets
Contacting housing services early may give you more time to explore suitable options.
Explain that your companion animal is an important part of your life and describe any relevant welfare, health, disability or safeguarding considerations.
Early housing support
At risk of losing your home
Do not wait until the day you have to leave. Contact your council or a qualified housing adviser as soon as you know your accommodation may not continue.
Contact your local council
Ask for the housing options or homelessness service. Explain when you may lose your accommodation and provide any relevant notices, correspondence or supporting information.
Get independent housing advice
Before leaving your home or agreeing to end a tenancy, seek advice from a qualified housing adviser.
Receiving an eviction notice does not necessarily mean you must leave immediately. The correct next steps depend on your tenancy and circumstances.
Explain your pet’s needs clearly
Tell the housing service what type of companion animal you have, their care requirements and why remaining together matters to you.
Include relevant disability, health, safeguarding or welfare information where appropriate.
Keep a record of conversations
Record who you spoke to, dates, decisions and agreed actions. Keep copies of forms, emails and evidence.
Immediate housing assistance
If you are homeless or have nowhere safe to stay
Contact your local council’s homelessness service. Explain that you are homeless or threatened with homelessness and describe your immediate housing circumstances.
Contact the council
Ask for the homelessness or housing options service and explain whether you have somewhere safe to stay tonight.
If the office is closed, check for emergency out-of-hours housing assistance.
Tell them about your pet
Explain the species, size, housing and care requirements of your companion animal.
Ask whether any available accommodation accepts pets and whether alternatives can be considered.
Explain relevant circumstances
Tell the service about children, pregnancy, disability, health concerns, domestic abuse or other factors affecting your housing needs and safety.
Ask for decisions in writing
Request written confirmation of important housing decisions. If you believe you have been wrongly refused assistance, seek advice promptly.
You do not have to be sleeping rough to seek help
Depending on your circumstances and the applicable housing law, you may be considered homeless even if you are staying temporarily with others or living somewhere unsafe or unreasonable to occupy.
A qualified housing adviser can explain how the rules apply to your situation.
Keeping people and pets together
What if the accommodation will not accept your pet?
Emergency accommodation, hostels, refuges and other housing services may have restrictions on companion animals. Policies differ between providers.
Ask whether another suitable placement is available. Explain why separation from your pet would affect your wellbeing and describe any relevant welfare considerations.
Depending on the circumstances, specialist advocacy or temporary animal care may also be worth exploring.
If you have a dog, Dogs Trust provides information about dog-friendly homelessness services. This resource is specifically for dog owners.
Questions to ask
- Does any available placement accept my type of pet?
- Can an individual assessment be made?
- Are there pet-inclusive providers nearby?
- Can the council consult specialist services?
- Would temporary animal care be appropriate?
- Can relevant supporting evidence be considered?
Help housing providers understand
Prepare a short profile for your pet
Clear information may help housing providers understand your animal’s needs and consider suitable arrangements.
Include your pet’s species, age, size and relevant individual characteristics.
Explain temperament, behaviour, handling needs and how the animal is normally cared for.
Provide relevant vaccination, microchip, identification or veterinary information where applicable.
Describe feeding, exercise, hygiene, enclosure or supervision arrangements.
Consider appropriate references or supporting information from a landlord, veterinary practice or support worker.
Temporary arrangements
If you cannot keep your pet with you temporarily
Suitable short-term care may provide time to stabilise housing arrangements without immediately making a permanent rehoming decision.
Someone you trust
A friend or family member may be able to provide temporary care while you work with housing services.
Agree feeding, veterinary care, costs, communication and return arrangements.
Specialist fostering or boarding
Some organisations and providers offer temporary care in particular circumstances.
Eligibility, availability and species accepted vary significantly between services.
Ask your existing support network
Housing officers, social workers, domestic abuse specialists or homelessness services may know of appropriate local resources.
Explain why avoiding permanent separation matters and what temporary care your animal would require.
Check informal arrangements carefully
Agree how long the arrangement will last, who is responsible for care and veterinary costs, and how your pet will be returned.
Keep ownership arrangements and veterinary authorisations clear and documented.
Avoid handing your animal to an unknown person without appropriate checks and welfare safeguards.
Housing and animal welfare resources
Organisations that may be able to help
These organisations provide different types of support. Some focus on housing, while others offer specialist animal welfare services. Availability and eligibility vary.
Shelter
Independent housing advice about eviction, homelessness, emergency accommodation and housing rights.
Get help from Shelter →Your local council
Contact your local housing options or homelessness team for information about housing assistance and applications.
Find council homelessness help →Dogs Trust Together Through Homelessness
Information and services for dog owners experiencing homelessness, including dog-friendly service information and eligible veterinary assistance.
Visit Dogs Trust →StreetVet
Veterinary and related welfare support for pets belonging to people experiencing homelessness in areas where its services operate.
Visit StreetVet →Homeless Link
Homeless England provides information about homelessness accommodation, outreach and support services.
Check individual services directly for their pet policies.
Search Homeless England →Dogs Trust Freedom
A specialist temporary dog fostering service for people escaping domestic abuse, subject to the programme’s eligibility and coverage.
Visit Dogs Trust Freedom →Support before separation
Before permanently rehoming your pet
A housing crisis can make permanent rehoming seem like the only available option, especially when decisions must be made quickly.
Where safe and realistic, explore pet-inclusive housing, qualified housing advice, temporary care and support from trusted people or specialist organisations.
If rehoming genuinely becomes necessary, contact an appropriate rescue or animal welfare organisation with experience of your pet’s species.
For dogs, HomeWagger is PAWP’s dedicated welfare-first rehoming app, currently being developed.
Options to explore first
- Pet-inclusive housing
- Local council homelessness assistance
- Independent housing advice
- Temporary care from trusted people
- Specialist fostering services
- Financial or veterinary support
Recognising the human–animal bond
People should not have to choose between safety and a much-loved pet
Companion animals can provide stability, comfort and an important source of emotional support during housing insecurity or homelessness.
Understanding that relationship may help housing professionals identify barriers, consider practical alternatives and work towards safer outcomes.
PAWP encourages early recognition of companion animals within housing support, together with informed decisions and appropriate specialist involvement where necessary.
💜 The People & Animal Welfare Project
Supporting people and pets, together.
PAWP believes that people experiencing housing insecurity should have their relationships with companion animals appropriately recognised.
Our aim is to make useful information, specialist resources and pet-inclusive approaches more accessible.
For people, for pets, for purpose.
Common questions
Housing and homelessness FAQs
When should I contact my local council?
Contact your council as soon as you know you may lose your accommodation or need homelessness assistance.
You do not have to wait until you are sleeping rough. Explain your circumstances to the housing options or homelessness team.
Does emergency accommodation have to accept my pet?
Not every emergency accommodation provider accepts companion animals. Policies and legal responsibilities depend on the circumstances.
Ask whether a pet-inclusive placement or suitable alternative can be considered. Where disability-related issues arise, seek qualified advice about any applicable reasonable-adjustment duties.
Can the council help before I become homeless?
Councils may have duties to assess your circumstances and provide homelessness prevention assistance before you actually lose your home.
The precise rules vary across the UK. Contact your council or a qualified housing adviser early.
What if I am staying temporarily with friends or family?
Temporary accommodation with friends or family does not automatically mean your housing situation is secure.
Explain whether the arrangement is temporary, overcrowded, unsafe or likely to end. A housing adviser can explain whether you may qualify for assistance.
Is temporary fostering available for pets during homelessness?
Some specialist organisations offer temporary pet fostering in particular circumstances.
Availability may be limited and can depend on your location, circumstances and the species of animal. Contact providers directly.
Should I rehome my pet if my landlord will not accept them?
Before making a permanent decision, seek advice about your tenancy, relevant pet restrictions and any legal rights that may apply.
Consider whether a suitable housing alternative, permission or temporary animal care is realistic.
If rehoming becomes unavoidable, seek a reputable organisation experienced with your pet’s species.
Important information
This PAWP guide provides general information and signposting only. It is not a substitute for individual housing, legal, veterinary, social care or safeguarding advice.
Housing duties, tenancy rights and homelessness assistance vary across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some linked resources specifically relate to England.
Specialist organisations have their own eligibility criteria, coverage and service availability. PAWP cannot guarantee access to accommodation, pet fostering, veterinary treatment or other assistance.
If somebody is in immediate danger, call 999. For an urgent veterinary emergency, contact an emergency veterinary practice.