Temporary Accommodation
Case reference FOI2025/01089
Received 28 October 2025
Published 17 November 2025
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am writing to request the following information relating to the use of hotels for temporary accommodation:
1. Hotel Usage:
* Do you currently use any hotels (either directly or through third-party providers) for temporary accommodation purposes, such as housing homeless households or individuals?
* If yes, please list the hotel names and postcodes currently in use.
2. Rates and Payments:
* What are the typical rates paid per room or per night (or per room per month) for such accommodation?
* Please provide the average rate range or rate bands applicable for the past 12 months.
3. Opportunities to Offer Hotels:
* Can external hotel operators or accommodation providers offer rooms to the Council at lower or more competitive rates for temporary accommodation use?
4. Procurement / Contact Information:
* If yes, please provide the name, email address, and contact number of the appropriate officer or department to whom such offers or proposals should be directed (e.g., Housing, Temporary Accommodation, or Procurement) Please provide the information in electronic format (PDF or Excel). If any part of this request is exempt, please specify the exemption relied upon and provide the remaining non-exempt information where possible.
Response
1. Hotel Usage:
* Do you currently use any hotels (either directly or through third-party
providers) for temporary accommodation purposes, such as housing homeless
households or individuals? - Yes
* If yes, please list the hotel names and postcodes currently in use
Section 38 of the FOIA provides an exemption from disclosing information if it
would or would be likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any
individual or endanger the individual. We consider that by disclosing the
address/es of temporary accommodation in our area it may potentially impact on
some vulnerable individuals fleeing domestic violence or abuse. There is a risk
that tenants may be targeted, threatened or harassed. This risk will be
sufficiently higher if individuals were made aware of addresses where vulnerable
individuals have been placed.
The exemption is qualified and therefore the public interest test must be
considered in applying the exemption.
In favour of maintaining the exemption – disclosure of information would be
likely to prejudice the safety of vulnerable customers including domestic abuse
victims and their households.
In favour of disclosure – The Council recognises that weight must always be
given to the general principle of accountability and transparency of the Council
to facilitate public awareness and understanding of emergency temporary
accommodation expenditure and the establishments used. As transparency is
underpinned in the Freedom of Information Act there is a general presumption in
favour of disclosure so as to reflect the spirit of the Act, however, we conclude
that the disclosure of the addresses of temporary accommodation would be
likely to prejudice the safety of vulnerable customers including domestic abuse
victims and their households. In considering the public interest tests we
therefore consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption
outweighs the public interest in disclosing the addresses of emergency
accommodation.
2. Rates and Payments:
* What are the typical rates paid per room or per night (or per room per month)
for such accommodation?
* Please provide the average rate range or rate bands applicable for the past 12
months
Within Borough
1 Bed - £56.00 (per night) (£48.00 - £65.00)
2 Bed - £64.00 (per night) (£55.00 - £65.00)
Out of Borough
1 Bed - £49.00 (per night) (£38.00 - £60.00)
2 Bed - £65.00 (per night) (£55.00 - £72.00)
3 Bed - £68.00 (per night) (£62.00 - £72.00)
4 Bed - £80.00 (per night) (£75.00 - £85.00)
3. Opportunities to Offer Hotels:
* Can external hotel operators or accommodation providers offer rooms to the
Council at lower or more competitive rates for temporary accommodation use? -
Yes
4. Procurement / Contact Information:
* If yes, please provide the name, email address, and contact number of the
appropriate officer or department to whom such offers or proposals should be
directed (e.g., Housing, Temporary Accommodation, or Procurement) - Emails to
housingadvice@tunbridgewells.gov.uk FAO Housing Services Manager
Documents
This is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.