A person is homeless if they have no accommodation in the UK, or anywhere else in the world, that they have a legal right to occupy.
Accommodation could be:
- an interest in a property or being a homeowner
- accommodation by a court order in domestic proceedings
- accommodation by a licence of friend or family member or contractual licence
- a tenancy which protects a person's rights from termination of a tenancy until order of possession.
Request help
Our priority is to help you stay in your home. If this is not possible, we will support you to find housing through a number of options.
If you think you are going to be homeless, it is important to complete our housing advice self assessment as soon as possible.
Please note: You must have an email address to proceed with this form.
Apply for homelessness assistance
If you have any difficulties completing the form, call us on 01895 556666.
You may not be eligible for assistance if you:
- are under immigration control and have not been requalified by further regulations
- have no recourse to public funds
- are a non-working EEA national
- a asylum seekers
- on a sponsorship visas
- are not a regular resident in the UK.
The homelessness assistance process
- Make a homelessness application.
- Speak with your assigned housing officer.
- Discuss your housing needs and affordability.
- Develop your Personal Housing Plan (PHP).
- Explore suitable housing options.
- Find and agree housing option.
- Move in.
We cannot offer council accommodation to most people, therefore you may wish to consider finding accommodation in the private sector.
Preventing being homeless
You should make sure that any property you move into is affordable to you in the longer term.
You can find accommodation to rent, including rooms in shared houses, through services such as:
At risk from domestic abuse
Domestic abuse is a crime and should reported to the police. If you are someone you know is in immediate danger call 999.
If you, or someone you know, is a victim of domestic violence and abuse, you can report this to the council.
Report domestic abuse
Shelter
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through advice, support and legal services.
Shelter provides advice on how to find a privately rented home and what to look out for along the way.