Homelessness

Can the Council help me if I am homeless or threatened with homelessness?

Local authorities have a legal duty to provide temporary accommodation for certain people who are homeless or about to become homeless through no fault of their own.

If you have a dependent child under 16 years (or 19 if in full time education), or are pregnant, or are vulnerable because of ill health or some other special reason you may be in priority need and can apply to the Housing Section for temporary accommodation.

If you do not fall into any of these categories we can offer advice and assistance by our Homelessness Prevention Officers.

What documents will I need to bring?

If you have arranged an interview or intend to drop-in because you are homeless tonight you may need to bring proof of identity to support your application.

You will be advised when you contact us which ones will be relevant to your particular case.

Birth certificates for your entire household (especially children)
Passports
Photo ID cards
Evidence of household income
Home Office letter showing your eligibility to remain in the UK or other documentation showing your status to remain in the UK
Benefits entitlement, eg., Child Benefit, Incapacity Benefit (bank statements showing the relevant payments)
Proof of pregnancy (this must be the blue book issued at your ante-natal clinic or a letter from your GP showing your name, date of birth and stating that you are pregnant and the expected date of confinement)
A copy of any current tenancy agreement
A copy of any notice to quit your accommodation
Bank statements and bills etc. if you are claiming debt problems/bankruptcy as the reason for homelessness
Crime reference numbers or contact details of the relevant individuals if you are claiming to be fleeing violence (domestic or otherwise)
Medical evidence of a claimed priority need on medical grounds (contact details of a GP, CPN or other medical practitioner)

You may have priority need on a mobility basis and you may need to provide professional contact details so that we can establish how your mobility will be affected in respect of housing.

I have made an application to the Council for temporary housing - how long will it be before a decision is made?

The Council aims to make a decision within 33 days of the receipt of your application, and they should notify you within three working days of making the decision.

If the Council offers temporary accommodation what will it be like?

Temporary accommodation is in high demand. We will try to place people in the area they have requested but this is not always possible. We can only offer you one placement anywhere in the district. There are various types of temporary accommodation that the Council uses. Some examples are listed below:

Bed and Breakfast - The Council aims to meet the government’s target to phase out the use of bed and breakfast as temporary accommodation for all but emergency cases. All bed and breakfast establishments used by the Council will have current fire safety certification and are checked annually.

Temporary Housing – The Council have the use of approximately 30 properties where they can accommodate homeless families on a temporary basis.

I do not agree with a decision made by the Housing Team

If you make a homeless application (under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996) the Council will investigate to see if they have a duty towards you. When a decision is reached you will be informed by letter. If you don’t agree with the decision you can request a review. To do this follow the review process outlined below.

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The Council’s duty towards you will end

If you turn down a reasonable offer of accommodation from the District Housing Register. A one offer only policy is used by the joint housing register
If you leave the temporary accommodation provided voluntarily
If you are evicted from the temporary accommodation for rent arrears or anti-social behaviour
If you cease to be eligible

If you do not feel that the duty towards you should end, you can request a review. It is possible to request a review of the suitability of a property allocated to you through the register even if you have accepted that property.

The review process

Within 21 days of the date of the decision letter you should contact the Council to inform them you are requesting a review. It may also be helpful if you seek independent advice at this stage through your local Citizens Advice Bureau or www.shelter.org.uk.

The first stage of the review – When the Council receives your letter they will arrange a review. At the review the Council will look at your application and consider your reasons for disagreeing with the decision made. The Council will reply in writing. If you are still unhappy you can register the second stage.

The second stage review – If the Council does not change the decision and you still disagree, you can ask for the decision to be looked at again by a board of Councillors. You will be invited to this review and can take a friend or representative with you

The County Court – If the board of Councillors does not change the decision you may be able to ask the county court to review the decision on a point of law. The Council would strongly recommend that you seek independent advice if you have not already done so by this stage.