If you are homeless tonight or within the next 56 days or concerned that you may become homeless, please complete a referral to our Housing team by completing the form below.
If you become homeless outside of their normal opening hours, contact the Emergency Duty Team by telephoning 0333 3204555.
Are you legally homeless?
You are legally classed as being ‘homeless’ if you fall into one of the categories below. If one of these situations is likely to apply to you within 56 days, then you are classed as being ‘threatened with homelessness’.
- You have absolutely nowhere to live in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, which you can legally occupy.
- It is not reasonable for you to stay in your home because you would be at risk of violence, abuse or harassment or serious threats of violence.
- It is not reasonable for you to stay in your home because of extreme overcrowding, very poor state of repair or other special circumstance.
- You have accommodation but cannot access it.
- You live in a mobile structure such as a caravan or boat and you have nowhere to park or moor it.
- You have been served with a valid Section 21 notice from your landlord.
We can give you advice or take action to help you keep your home and can negotiate on your behalf where needed. We will provide an agreed Personal Housing Plan (PHP) so that we can work together and help you retain your home or source alternative housing if you have to move so that this can be done in a planned way.
Our range of services includes:
- Referral to domestic violence outreach worker.
- 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.
- Specialist advice for offenders.
- Help and advice if you are having problems with your mortgage and face repossession.
- A floating support service.
In the event of becoming homeless, we will provide help and assistance, and if necessary arrange temporary accommodation for you while we carry out an assessment with you and conduct our investigations to why you have become homeless.
You have the right to ask for a review on any decisions relating to your case that you do not agree with. If you are appealing a decision, you need to do this in writing within 21 days from receiving your decision. For details on this, please contact us and ask to speak to a Homelessness Officer.
Please also see our legal homelessness duties page.