Homelessness

The 1996 Housing Act, Part VII (as amended by the 2002 Homelessness Act) sets out the legal duties that all local authorities have towards people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

You may be at risk of homelessness because of:

• Unemployment or redundancy
• Unlawful eviction or harassment
• Domestic violence
• Mortgage or rent arrears

Homelessness prevention

Sometimes there are ways of preventing or delaying becoming homeless, for instance:

• Getting timely advice before the problem gets any worse
• Finding out what your rights are to stay in your home
• Applying for benefits to help you pay your rent or mortgage
• Getting help to improve the conditions in your home
• Contacting your landlord or mortgage lender if you are a tenant
• or homeowner and there is a problem or danger of losing your home
• Finding somewhere else to live

Please see the leaflet Homelessness Prevention, under downloads on the right, for more information.

What to do if you are homeless

If you think you are going to become homeless or are homeless you should try to get help from the Council or any other advice agency as soon as possible.

You may be entitled to direct help from the council providing you meet all the requirements under the Homelessness Act. Otherwise, you will only be entitled to advice and assistance in finding accommodation.

Please see the leaflet What to do if You Are Homeless, under downloads on the right, for more information.

Contact us

If you would like to speak to someone about homelessness, please contact the Housing Advice and Homelessness Centre using the contact details above.

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Page updated: 31 Jan 2008