Local authority housing and homelessness assistance are both classed as public funds, which means you cannot access them.
As a result individuals and families with NRPF overwhelmingly live in private rentals. Given the risk of destitution many with NRPF face, renting privately and maintaining payments can be tricky at the best of times and impossible during a crisis. The housing rights you are entitled to do not change, regardless of your rental agreement. They are designed to provide everyone with security and safety at home.
Individuals and families with NRPF can access social housing under the condition that is not provided for by the local authority, you may receive social housing via a registered social landlord or housing association, so long as you can meet the pre-tenancy checks.
Despite this, there are some routes to support. Emergency accommodation provided under social care legislation, such as the Section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 or Section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, is not a public fund and may be accessed by individuals and families with NRPF should they meet the conditions laid out in the respective policies, which are very particular and have a high threshold of need.
Local authorities can also still provide housing advice if requested. Local authorities need to assess eligibility for services and may be able to provide immediate emergency support whilst eligibility is being established and refer on to the appropriate service.
Once you are in a private rental, your rights as a tenant are the same as those of a UK national. To learn more about the relationship between NRPF, housing and homelessness, please see our NRPF and Housing page.
See below for a variety of resources that may help you with your journey to housing support.
Aberdeen City Council provides essential guidance and support for people renting a home from a private landlord in the city. This service helps tenants understand their rights and responsibilities, covering key areas such as tenancy agreements, deposit protection, repairs, dispute resolution and eviction.
The information is designed for anyone living in a private rented property, regardless of their immigration status. It can help you take the right steps if problems arise with your tenancy.
Bethany Christian Trust works with individuals and local communities across Scotland to prevent homelessness.
They provide safe and secure accommodation in Torry for people at risk of or with a history of homelessness, enabling them to build the capacity to prevent further recurrence of homelessness. Anyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness is invited to apply. Those they support also receive holistic support and, where necessary, are helped to learn independent living skills.
You can reach them in the following ways:
This website serves as a comprehensive resource on housing rights in Scotland for both new arrivals and the professionals who support them. For migrants, refugees, and recent arrivals, it provides clear, accessible guidance tailored to specific immigration statuses to help navigate housing options.
For housing advisers and support workers, it acts as a detailed reference tool, offering structured information on housing and housing rights across various migrant categories.
In September 2023, they produced a detailed briefing on hotel evictions, which is attached above.
DIsabled Persons Housing Service Aberdeen (DPHS) is a local charity offering housing options, advice, information, and advocacy to disabled people, their families, and carers.
You can reach them in the following ways:
Home Energy Scotland is a free, impartial service funded by the Scottish Government. Their advice line connects you with expert advisors who can provide practical, tailored guidance to help you create a warmer home and reduce energy bills.
The service is available to anyone living in Scotland. Advisors can help with a range of issues, including heating systems, insulation, energy tariffs, and advice on making your home more energy efficient.
You can reach the advice line in the following ways:
This factsheet, produced by Just Right Scotland (JRS) in 2021, outlines housing rights of EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens, and their non-EU family members.
SCARF provides free, practical advice to help householders across the North East of Scotland live in warmer homes and reduce their fuel bills. Their team of expert advisors can help you find simple, effective ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency, whether you are a homeowner or a tenant.
Services include one-to-one home visits for a face-to-face chat about your specific situation, as well as advice available at community groups and events. The service is open to any householder looking to lower energy costs and create a more comfortable living environment.
You can reach them in the following ways:
Shelter Scotland exists to defend the right to a safe, secure and affordable home. They strive every day to provide people struggling with poor housing or homelessness with the help they need through advice, support, and legal services. Shelter Scotland campaigns relentlessly to achieve its vision of a safe, secure, affordable home for everyone.
Their website hosts comprehensive online housing advice that is easily translated in your browser, which may help answer a number of your questions
You can reach them in the following ways:
These Homes is a Digital Lettings Service designed to make finding and applying for affordable rented properties across Scotland simpler. Instead of submitting separate applications to different landlords, you only need to apply once because fourteen landlord partners share a single housing register, including the likes of Osprey Housing, Langstane Housing Association, and Grampian Housing Association
This means your single application is considered for homes from all partners, rather than just one landlord.
The service covers several areas, including Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
You reach These Homes in the following ways
Turning Point Scotland specialises in supporting people facing the most complex and challenging situations, including those with NRPF status.
In Aberdeen, their Fair Way Scotland Service supports EEA nationals who are experiencing destitution and their Housing Support Services are accessed via referral from the Local Authority.
You can reach them in the following ways: