If you are homeless or worried about losing your home

If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness you should get advice and help to find a solution to your housing problem as soon as possible.  

What we can do

We will try to stop you losing your home where you are eligible and threatened with homelessness. Our primary aim is to help you stay in your own home, rent in the private sector and advise on your housing options. 

You can apply to any local authority, if you are eligible and:  

• Homeless, or 
• May become homeless within two months (56 days)  

Under the Homelessness Reduction Act you must cooperate with reasonable steps and efforts the council have agreed with you and is taking to prevent you from becoming homeless or finding an alternative home. If we help you into a private rented home this may end our duty to house you.

Reasons for homelessness

Here are some of the most common reasons why you might be homeless or at risk of losing your home:

• Your home isn’t safe because of domestic violence or abuse
• You are sleeping rough or street homeless
• You’ve been asked to leave or served with a notice from your landlord
• You can no longer afford your home
• You have been asked to leave by family or friends
• You need help with emergency housing after a fire or flood
• You’re leaving care
• You’re leaving the armed forces
• You’re leaving prison
• You’re leaving hospital
• You have mortgage arrears or are worried about repossession

We can offer advice on your legal rights and may negotiate with your current landlord or the person you live with to prevent you becoming homeless, help you to find alternative housing or provide a range of other housing options. 

Homelessness and your local council

If you are homeless today you should contact your local council for housing help as we are likely to refer you to them. 

You may have more housing options in the area where you have a connection as they can more readily offer advice and information on a local basis. It will also be far easier to visit an office closer to you if you have to attend appointments.

Local connection means for example where you live, work, have immediate family - usually a parent, brother or sister.

Council or housing association properties

These days, it is more likely that we will help you to find a private rented home, to buy a home or advise on your housing options.

Housing in the area is in high demand, and very few council and housing association homes become available to let each year – this depends on existing tenants moving out or giving up their property. 

Each day, people register for council housing assistance, some have a higher priority, which means you may move up or down the register. So, there is a very limited likelihood of being offered a home, and it’s extremely difficult to estimate if you will ever be in the offer range for housing.

However, we will work with you to seek a housing solution to help you to stay in your home, or to find an alternative. By exploring your housing options it may be easier and quicker for you to move home and resolve your problem.

You are strongly urged to read the advice and information we provide and consider all of your housing options.