How to challenge the decision about your homelessness application

Summary

This guide is for you if you want to challenge the decision made by the council about your homelessness application. This guide will take you through the process step by step so that you can work out if you have the right to challenge what the council says about your homelessness problem, and how to do it. You can also find out where to go next for more help. The information in this guide to England only. The law may be different if you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. 1 Getting started 2 How to get a written decision letter from the council 3 When and how to get a review of a decision made by the council 4 When and how you can appeal a decision made by the council 5 Collecting evidence to help you get the right decision 6 Getting legal advice on challenging the council 7 More help and advice 8 What does it mean? 9 About this guide If you are about to be made homeless or if you are already homeless you are likely to be feeling stressed and anxious. If you are not getting the help you feel you need then you are likely to be feeling frustrated or angry too. Try not to panic or give up. You might feel that you don’t know where to start. The sooner you get some information.

Key information

• You live outside England - (the law is different in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland).
• You are not eligible for help with housing (see What to do if you are threatened with homelessness to work this out).
• What a written decision letter from the council is and how to get one.
• When and how you can get a review of a decision made by the council about your homelessness problem.
• What to do if there is no right to a review.
• When and how you can appeal a decision made by the council.
• How you can collect evidence to help you get the right decision.
• How and where to get more legal advice and help.
• What to do if you are threatened with homelessness
• What to do if you are homeless
• How to deal with a section 21 notice
• How to fix problems with your privately rented home

Practical guidance

• Source: How to challenge the decision about your homelessness application

Related topics

More in this area

• Challenging a homeless decision
• Getting help from social services if you're homeless
• If you’re being evicted by the council or housing association
• Check you have the ‘right to reside’ for housing
• Overage Agreements and Clauses Explained