Help with housing when leaving hospital

How we can help

Your local Housing Options Service can:

  • help you find somewhere else to live
  • give advice on all your housing options
  • help you fill in applications
  • update an existing application

Your options may include:

  • applying to the Highland Housing Register
  • buying a low‑cost home
  • buying or renting a more suitable property

You can contact us, or your occupational therapist or social worker can refer you.


Going home while you wait for a move

We will try to help you go back home while you wait for a move. You may get temporary arrangements for access and toileting. 

You will still get accessible housing points if your home does not meet your needs.

If you cannot leave hospital because of housing, you may move to:

  • another care facility
  • a temporary home, such as a short‑term let in sheltered housing

We may ask you to widen your choices so you can move sooner. This could mean choosing more communities or property types.

Offers of housing

We will only offer you homes that meet your needs. If you need an adapted home, an occupational therapist will check it.

If you refuse an offer that meets your needs:

  • we look at how reasonable the offer is
  • you usually get two reasonable offers
  • if you refuse both, you will not get another offer for at least six months
  • homeless applicants get one reasonable offer

Demand for housing

How long you wait depends on:

  • your points or priority
  • the property types and communities you choose

Demand is very high in some areas. To increase your chances:

  • choose more communities
  • consider different property types and providers

Your Housing Options Service can give tailored advice.


Ending a tenancy

Do not end your tenancy or return your keys without speaking to us. Talk to your landlord and your local Housing Options office

If you make yourself homeless you will have fewer options.

Page last modified: 22 January 2026