Starting a homeless application

If you're already homeless, or likely to become homeless within the next 8 weeks you can apply for help getting somewhere to live from your local council. This is known as making a homeless application.

The council will look into your situation to decide what help they might be able to give you. There isn't a set time to get a decision, but there shouldn't be an unreasonably long delay.

Before making an application check if you're entitled to homeless help. If you're not sure, it's still worth applying because the council has to review all applications.

If you’re not a British citizen and you’ve been rough sleeping your right to stay in the UK might be affected. If you’re applying to the EU Settlement Scheme your application cannot be turned down because of rough sleeping. Talk to an adviser if you’re worried that rough sleeping might affect your immigration status.

If you’re aged 16 to 17

It’s usually worth applying to social services for homeless help. Social services are more likely to help you, and they’ll usually give you more help.

If you apply to your local council, they’ll ask if you’re happy for them to do a ‘joint assessment’. This means social services will also look at your application, and they will usually end up helping you.

If you’ve recently been living in care, you usually have to apply to social services rather than your local council.

Check how to get homeless help from social services.

The council might have to give you emergency housing straightaway while they look at your application, you should always ask for this. If they refuse to give you housing you can challenge their decision. Read more about challenging a homeless decision.

If the council won’t let you make a homeless application or they refuse to give you emergency housing contact your nearest Citizens advice to get help.

If you have nowhere safe to sleep and need help

If you can’t stay in your home because of violence, threats or any other abuse you can apply for homeless help. You can also get help from:

Refuge or Women's Aid on 0808 2000 247 at any time

Men's Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm

Calls to these numbers are free.

Applying to the council

It’s best to go in person or phone your local council’s housing department as soon as possible, because it can take a long time to be dealt with. Tell them you want to make a homeless application.

They’II arrange for a housing officer to interview you - this will usually be on the same day if you have nowhere to stay that night.

If the council office is closed, check their website - there should be an emergency number you can call.

If you can’t apply for help yourself, for example because you’re ill someone else can apply for you. For example, you could give consent for a family member or support worker to apply on your behalf.

Preparing to speak to the council

When you speak to the council, you'll need to explain why you're homeless or about to become homeless.

It's worth writing down what you plan to say first. If you need help to do this, contact your nearest Citizens Advice.

You should also try to take:

• proof of your identity, for example your passport or birth certificate

• your tenancy agreement, if you have one

• evidence of why you have to leave your home, for example an eviction notice

• medical information, if you have health problems  

You can still apply for help if you don’t have these documents - you’II usually need to give other documents. Ask the council what documents you can give instead.

If you've applied for help before

You can apply again if you have something new to include in your application. You'll have something new if either:

• your situation has changed since you last applied - for example, if you’ve had a child

• you got new evidence since you last applied - for example, a medical report from your doctor

The council should accept your application if you include something new. Talk to an adviser if the council refuses to accept your application.

Speaking to the housing officer

You can ask the council to have someone you trust with you for support when you speak to the housing officer. This could be a friend or social worker. They can go with you to the council office or sit with you if you have a phone call.

Tell the housing officer why you’re being made homeless. For example, tell them if your landlord has given you notice to leave.

Try and give as much detail as possible about your situation. They want to find out more about your situation so they can decide if the council has to help you. 

They should explain the application process including how the the council will decide if they can help and what help they can give you.

The housing officer will also want to know

• if you live permanently in the UK

• who the members of your household are - for example, your children

• if you or anyone in your household has any support needs - for example, if you’re disabled or have a long-term illness

Your household includes family members who normally live with you. It also includes people who don’t live with you now but could reasonably be expected to live with you in the future. For example, if your children don’t live with you because they’re subject to interim care orders.

What happens next

The council should write to tell you what help they can give you.

If you meet the criteria to get help the council will first try to see if they can help you stay in your home if you're going to be homeless. If you’re already homeless they’II try to help you find a new home. Find out more about how the council can help you with housing.

If the council can’t help you to stay in your home or find a new one they’II check if they can give you other help. You might be able to get emergency housing or longer-term housing. Find out more about the housing you can be offered.

You should continue to look for housing whilst you’re waiting for the council's decision so you’II have somewhere to live if they can’t offer you housing.