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Homelessness and your council

Councils must ensure that free housing advice and information is available for everyone.

They must also provide you with help if you’re ‘legally homeless’. However, the amount of help you’ll get (for example, arranging accommodation for you or giving you advice) will depend on things like:

• if you became homeless through no fault of your own
  
• if you’re eligible for assistance
  
• if you’re in priority need

You can use Shelter’s emergency rights checker to help you find out what help you’re entitled to. If you’re a young person – see the link ‘Young people and homelessness’.

• Emergency housing rights checker Opens new window

• Get homelessness advice from your council Opens new window

• Young people and homelessness (young people section)

Legally homeless

You may be legally homeless if:

• you’ve no legal right to live in accommodation anywhere in the world
  
• you can’t get into your home – for example, because your landlord has locked you out
  
• it’s not reasonable to stay in your home – for example, because of violence or risk of violence
  
• you’re forced to live apart from your family or from someone you would normally live with because your accommodation is not suitable
  
• you’re living in very poor conditions - for example, your accommodation is so bad it‘s damaging your health

Eligible for assistance

Most people who live permanently in the UK are eligible for assistance. If you’re from abroad, you may not be eligible because of your immigration status.

Priority need

You’re in priority need if, for example:

• you or someone you live with is pregnant
  
• ‘dependent children’ live with you – meaning children under the age of 16 or children under 19 when they are studying full-time
  
• you’re ‘vulnerable‘ – for example, because of old age or a disability, and you would come to harm if left homeless
  
• you’re homeless as a result of flood, fire or other disaster

• What is priority need for housing Opens new window

Homeless - getting accommodation from the council

The rules are complicated on when and how a council can help you. For detailed information contact your council or an organisation like Shelter.

If you need a ‘settled’ (permanent) home

The council must arrange a settled home for you if you’re:

• legally homeless through no fault of your own
  
• eligible for assistance
  
• in priority need

The council should arrange somewhere for you to live until they can offer you a settled home. This temporary accommodation could be in a house, flat, hostel or bed and breakfast hotel.

If you need temporary/emergency accommodation

This is somewhere for you to live long enough to give you a reasonable chance of finding accommodation yourself. The council must arrange this if you’re:

• legally homeless but your homelessness is your fault
  
• eligible for assistance
  
• in priority need

Paying for accommodation

You’re expected to pay towards the cost of the accommodation. Accommodation arranged by the council must be affordable. If you’re on a low income or benefits, you may be able to get housing benefit to help. If you think the accommodation costs are too high, speak to the council.

• Housing benefit (money, tax and benefits section)

• Benefits adviser service

What to do if the council can’t help you

If you can’t get accommodation from your council they might still be able to help you find accommodation for yourself. They can do this by giving you advice about where to go for help, for example, housing associations, hostels or private landlords.

You can also get online, telephone and face-to-face advice about your housing options from organisations like Shelter and Citizens Advice.

• Find your nearest Citizens Advice or Shelter advice centre Opens new window

• Homeless UK Opens new window

• No Second Night Out Opens new window

Preventing homelessness

If you’re facing homelessness or worried about losing your home your council may be able to help. For example, by:

• helping with mediation and resolving tensions in your home – if you’ve fallen out with your family/partner and are thinking of leaving
  
• providing budget and rent advice – if you’re having problems paying the rent and you're at risk of losing your home
  
• helping you find out if you’re eligible for any benefits to help with your housing costs
  
• speaking to your landlord if you’re at risk of eviction, or offering a rent bond to help you find alternative private rented accommodation
  
• putting you in emergency housing if you’re at risk of violence in your home

• Benefits adviser service

• Check your eligibility for Housing Benefit with your local council Opens new window

If you’re facing eviction

There are rules about how and when a landlord can evict a tenant and your landlord must get permission from the court before they can evict you.

• Evictions - private renting

• Eviction - a guide for council tenants

• Eviction - a guide for housing association tenants

If you‘re at risk of repossession

Support is available to help you to avoid repossession and remain in your home. For example:

• your lender may be able to change the terms of your mortgage to make your repayments more affordable
  
• independent money advisors (at organisations like Shelter or Citizens Advice) can help you to manage your finances
  
• you may be eligible for financial help from the government to stay in your home

• What you can do to avoid repossession - a guide

• Mortgages and repossessions

More useful links

• Young people and homelessness (young people section)