Frequently asked questions
When did the Council purchase the building?
In February 2025, councillors agreed to invest significantly in building and buying homes to address the housing emergency we face here in Edinburgh. As part of this commitment, we purchased the site on Halmyre Street, where new student accommodation has recently been built.
When the site became available for sale, we provisionally purchased it with the intention of changing its use from student accommodation to temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness. The purchase is subject to the developer obtaining planning permission for change of use from student accommodation to temporary accommodation.
A decision on planning permission is expected to be made in June 2026.
What is temporary accommodation?
There are temporary accommodation sites located across the city.
They offer safe and comfortable places for individuals or families to live while they wait for a permanent home to become available.
Temporary accommodation is offered to people who have had to declare themselves homeless and have nowhere else to stay. Many working people find themselves without a home and in need of our support.
Why do we need more temporary accommodation in Edinburgh
The population in Edinburgh is continuing to grow and, unfortunately, demand for homes far outstrips supply. Every night in the city, 6,500 households are without a home and living in temporary accommodation.
We and have set out plans to significantly increase the supply of suitable temporary accommodation and affordable homes across the city.
This includes committing £1.6 billion over the next five years to deliver more affordable homes and expand our provision of temporary accommodation for those waiting to be housed.
This is not a situation that is unique to Edinburgh and towns and cities across the country are experiencing overwhelming demand for housing. To help tackle this housing crisis and prevent homelessness, we must make sure everyone has access to a safe, warm place to stay and invest in help and support for anyone at risk of becoming homeless.
This new unit forms part of our plans and is an essential component in how we fulfil our statutory duties.
Who will be offered accommodation there?
The accommodation is made up of 230 self-contained flats which will provide much-needed new temporary housing for people without a permanent home, with no presumption about who will be accommodated, beyond their legal entitlement to receiving Council services and support.
Residents will be mixed gender.
Single-person households represent the majority of homelessness presentations in Edinburgh and will form the primary group eligible for this type of accommodation.
The property can also accommodate couples. The usual allocation process would apply and both members of the couple would need to meet the referral criteria.
Some examples of people who may stay there include people who
- have been living with family or friends, but have been asked to leave,
- are unable to stay in their home because they are at risk of violence from someone they live with or used to live with,
- have separated from their partner and have nowhere to stay,
- are forced to live apart from their family members because they do not have accommodation where they can live together,
- have been legally evicted by Court Order.
To be absolutely clear, this site will not be used to house people awaiting a decision on their asylum status - this is a matter managed by the Home Office, not the Council.
How will residents be selected and assessed?
Residents will be accommodated in the property based on an assessed housing need.
Any offer of accommodation will take into account the suitability of the property, any known risk factors, assessed support needs and household composition.
This accommodation is intended primarily for individuals with lower support needs who are capable of living independently.
How will the site be managed?
The property will be managed and run by our Temporary Accommodation Service. The service has significant experience of managing this type of accommodation within communities across the city.
As with all our temporary accommodation units, we will ensure that all necessary and appropriate safety and management arrangements will be in place and occupancy agreements will be in place outlining expected standards of behaviour.
Will residents be allowed to have visitors?
The only visitors permitted on site are professional colleagues who are involved in providing ongoing support for residents.
Is there a risk of anti-social behaviour?
We manage similar types of accommodation in communities across the city and there is no evidence of an associated increase in crime or concerns for public safety in these areas.
Occupancy agreements will be in place outlining expected standards of behaviour.
Anti-social behaviour will be addressed through a staged approach, including warnings, support interventions, and where necessary, escalation to enforcement action.
Will former prisoners stay there?
Residents may include individuals leaving the prison estate, however, placements will be subject to risk assessments in conjunction with partner agencies.
Those assessed as posing significant risk will not be placed at this site.
Where can I find out more information?
If planning permission is granted we’ll hold information sessions so you can come along to find out more and ask questions.
We’ll also host an open day so you can view the building and meet the team who will be managing it.
We’ll post the details of these on our website so please check back soon
When will it open?
If planning permission is granted we expect residents to move in in late summer or early autumn.