Homelessness
If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless within 56 days, the Council has a duty to assess your case and help you find accommodation.
How to get help
Contact the Council's housing options team as soon as possible if you are homeless or think you might become homeless. You do not need to wait until you have lost your home to ask for help.
Assessment
A housing options officer will assess your case and, if you are eligible, agree a Personalised Housing Plan setting out the steps you and the Council will take.
Prevention duty
If you are threatened with homelessness within 56 days, the Council owes a prevention duty and will take reasonable steps to help you stay in your current home or find a new one before you become homeless.
Relief duty
If you are already homeless, the Council owes a relief duty and will take reasonable steps to help you secure accommodation, for a period of up to 56 days.
Main housing duty
If reasonable steps do not resolve your homelessness and you fall into a priority need category, such as having dependent children, being pregnant, or being vulnerable due to age, disability or another special reason, the Council owes a main housing duty to secure accommodation for you.
Where accommodation may be provided
The Council may discharge its duty under the Housing Act 1996 by arranging suitable accommodation, which may be outside the district where local provision is unavailable.
If you disagree with a decision
You can ask the Council to review a decision about your case within 21 days of being notified. Details of how to request a review are set out in your decision letter.