What to do if you are homeless

Summary

This guide is for you if you have nowhere to live right now. There are lots of different situations that can lead to people being homeless. It might be because you have been evicted by your private landlord or forced to leave your home by your ex or a family member. You might be sleeping rough, sofa surfing, or staying with someone temporarily. This guide tells you everything you need to know about what the council must do to help you. It sets out what steps to take next and where to find 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 When you are homeless according to the law 3 When and how to get help from the council 4 Stage 1 - the duty to provide you with accommodation straight away 5 Stage 2 - the eligibility assessment 6 Stage 3 - the help the council has to give you - the 'Relief duty' 7 Your Personalised Housing Plan 8 What is suitable accommodation? 9 What ‘deliberate and unreasonable refusal to cooperate’ means 10 What happens when the Relief duty comes to an end 11 How to avoid being classed as intentionally homeless 12 More help and advice 13 What does it mean?.

Key information

• you have British citizenship or the right to remain in the UK.
• How to challenge the decision about your homelessness application
• How to deal with a section 21 notice
• What to do if you are threatened with homelessness
• What you need to know about emergency and temporary accommodation
• you are sleeping on a friend or family member’s sofa,
• you are sleeping rough on the streets or staying out all night for example on night buses,
• you have a home but it is unreasonable for you to occupy it, for example, because it is in a very poor state of repair or because it is so overcrowded,
• you are at risk of violence or domestic abuse (at your home if you go back to it).
• proof of identity such as your passport, ID card or driving licence,
• eviction notice and tenancy agreement if you have been told to leave your home by your landlord,
• if you have been asked to leave by a friend or family member, a letter from them saying when you have to leave by,

Practical guidance

• Source: What to do if you are homeless

Related topics

More in this area

• Challenging a homeless decision
• Getting help from social services if you're homeless
• How to challenge the decision about your homelessness application
• If you’re being evicted by the council or housing association
• Check you have the ‘right to reside’ for housing