What to do if…
you are told your home is unsafe to occupy and you must leave immediately

What to do now

1. Get to a safer pause. Move outside the risk area with anyone in the home, including pets if you can safely take them. Take your phone, keys, and any essential medicine that is immediately to hand. If there is immediate danger to life, call 999.
2. Find out who is giving the instruction. From a safe place, ask: “Which organisation are you from?”, “What is the hazard?”, “Can anyone go back in?”, and “Is entry banned or only restricted?” If there is a notice on the door, wall, or letterbox, photograph it clearly, including any reference number.
3. If you suspect gas or carbon monoxide, leave first and call the emergency gas route. In Great Britain, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. In Northern Ireland, call the Gas Emergency Service on 0800 002 001. Do this from outside or from a neighbour’s home, not from inside the affected property. If anyone may have carbon monoxide symptoms, call NHS 111 for medical advice; call 999 for breathing difficulty, sudden confusion, collapse, severe weakness, chest pain, or muscle pain.
4. If you rent, tell your landlord, agent, council landlord, or housing association immediately in writing. Send a short message: “I have been told the property is unsafe to occupy. Here are photos of the notice or damage. Please confirm the safety status, access restrictions, and any emergency or temporary accommodation arrangements.” Keep a copy.
5. If you own the home, contact your buildings insurer or emergency assistance line once people are safe. Say: “I have been told the property is unsafe to occupy and may need emergency accommodation or urgent assessment.” Do not stay on hold if you still have nowhere safe to sleep.
6. If you have nowhere safe to stay tonight, contact the urgent homelessness route for where you are. Use your local council or local authority out-of-hours service, or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive route if you are in Northern Ireland. Say: “I cannot occupy my home because of a safety risk and I need emergency accommodation tonight.”
7. Only collect a very small grab list if someone responsible says it is safe and allowed. Prioritise ID, bank cards, keys, phone and charger, essential medicines or devices, glasses or hearing aids, baby supplies, pet lead or carrier, and a warm layer. If you cannot safely collect them, leave them.
8. Make a simple record from a safe place. Write down the time, who told you to leave, what they said, and where you are staying tonight. Keep photos of notices or visible damage and receipts for emergency costs.