Homelessness and Housing Advice

If you are homeless tonight or within the next 56 days or concerned that you may become homeless, there are three ways to contact us:

  1.  Complete a referral to our Housing team by completing the form here.
  2. Telephone: 01253 658658
  3. Email: housing@fylde.gov.uk

If you are 16 or 17 and you are homeless, Children’s Social Care must assess your needs and you will be involved in the decision making.  Contact Lancashire Children’s Social Care on 0300 123 6720 (or out of hours call 0300 123 6722 8pm-8am Monday to Friday and any time during weekends and bank holidays).

Housing options

If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness it is important that you seek advice as soon as possible. Our Housing Team can offer you advice to help you to resolve your homelessness, they may have duties to help you under the Housing Act 1996 (as amended).

Help available includes:

  • Negotiation with your landlord if your tenancy is breaking down
  • Help to find accommodation if you need to leave where you are living or if you have nowhere to stay
  • Tenancy support to help you maintain or settle into your accommodation
  • Family mediation if your parents or family members are asking you to leave

What to do if you are homeless tonight

If you have nowhere to stay tonight, then you can attend our offices at Fylde Town Hall

The Housing and Homelessness service is open during the following hours:

Day  Opening Time
Monday 9am – 4pm
Tuesday 9am – 4pm
Wednesday 9am – 4pm
Thursday 9am – 4pm
Friday 9am – 3.30pm

As the Housing team is a busy service it may be difficult to get through on the phone. If you wish to email the Housing Team, the mailbox is checked regularly. All non-urgent enquiries will be responded to within 7 working days.

Even if we are unable to offer you emergency accommodation we will still try and help you resolve your homelessness in the long-term.

For homelessness emergencies outside these times, please telephone 07557660341.

Further help and assistance

Duty to Refer

The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 introduced a new duty on specified public bodies: The Homelessness (Review Procedure etc.) Regulations 2018 in England. This duty requires them to refer people they think are homeless or are at risk of homelessness to us.
It is important that these organisations make referrals to us. This will help us intervene earlier to prevent and relieve homelessness.
These public bodies have a duty to refer people to us:

How to make a referral

If you have a duty to refer, you can make a referral through the ALERT referral system Duty to Refer
Or by emailing us at dutytorefer@fylde.gov.uk
Note that making a referral does not trigger an emergency response from us.
Please provide as much detail as possible and ensure that you have the person’s consent.

Be aware

A referral does not replace a homelessness application. The person(s) you are referring will still need to make an application if they wish to seek our help.
Following a referral, the Housing Team will contact the person(s) to begin enquiries. If it is found the person(s) is homeless or threatened with homelessness, and they still want our help, then a homeless application will be made.

Help available includes:

 

What to do if you are threatened with homelessness

If you are threatened with homelessness within 56 days (e.g. your landlord has served you with an eviction notice, you cannot afford your rent or mortgage, etc).

The Housing Team will help you take steps to prevent you from becoming homeless.

We will always try and find a way of helping you stay in your current accommodation. If we cannot, we will try to help you find suitable alternative accommodation.

Documents you may be asked to provide: 

  • Proof of ID
  • Proof of income/benefits
  • Section 21 notice or Section 8 notice
  • Tenancy Agreement
  • Rent statements
  • Deregulation documents – EPC, Gas Safety, How to Rent and proof of Tenancy Deposit
  • National Insurance Number
  • Any Medical Evidence
  • Proof of child residency
  • Proof of immigration status
  • 2 months bank statements
  • Information regarding local connection to Fylde
  • Details of any support workers to contact
  • Previous landlord details and reference

What to do if you are struggling in your current accommodation

Our range of services includes:

  • Referral to domestic violence services.
  • A scheme to help with deposits to enable access to the privately rented sector.
  • Help and advice negotiating with private sector landlords.
  • Referral to debt and other support services.
  • Help and advice if you are having problems with your mortgage and face repossession.

Disrepair

If you are experiencing issues with unresolved disrepair that has already been reported to your landlord, please click here.

Antisocial behaviour

If you are experiencing issues with unresolved antisocial behaviour that has already been reported to your landlord or managing agent, please contact Customer Service on 01253 658658.

Housing Association Waiting List

Fylde Council no longer has any housing stock; this was transferred to Progress Housing Group in 2000.

To make it easier for all residents in Wyre, Blackpool and Fylde to register for social housing all you need to do is register with MyHomeChoice who represents the three councils and local Housing Associations.

MyHomeChoice provides a single place where you can find affordable available homes from all the major social landlords Our Partners – My Home Choice Fylde Coast

There are a small number of Housing Associations who have stock in the Fylde area who are not yet part of the MyHomeChoice scheme. You will need to contact each organisation separately to request a copy of their application form.

Sheltered, supportive housing

Abbeyfield Society Ltd

There are two properties at 1 Park Ave and 32 Cecil St Lytham

Residents have their own room, en-suite facilities and kitchenette with alarm pull-cords in the rooms. Lunch and evening meals are provided in a communal dining room. For further enquiries please ring the applications secretary on 01253 713699.

Adult Social Care

What is adult social care?

Adult social care covers a wide range of activities that help people who are older or living with disability or physical or mental illness to live independently and stay well and safe. It can include ‘personal care’, such as support for washing, dressing and getting out of bed in the morning, as well as wider support to help people stay active and engaged in their communities. Social care includes support in people’s own homes (home care or domiciliary care); support in day centres; care provided by residential homes and nursing homes (care homes); reablement services to help people regain independence; the provision of aids and adaptations for people’s homes; information and advice; and support for family carers.

Social care is often broken down into two broad categories of ‘short-term care’ and ‘long-term care’. Short-term care refers to a care package that is time limited, usually with the intention of maximising the independence of the individual using the care service and eliminating their need for ongoing support. Long-term services are provided on an ongoing basis and range from high-intensity services such as nursing care to lower-intensity community support. Both long-term and short-term care are arranged by a local authority and could be described as ‘formal’ care.

For further advice please contact Lancashire County Council here.

Private Rented Accommodation

Please see list below of some local letting agents and websites. This list is non exhaustive.

You may be able to apply to the DHP (Discretionary Housing Payment) team for bond if you have an entitlement to housing costs.

Useful Links