If you need to find somewhere to live

Your housing options might be things like:

• getting help if you’re homeless or might be homeless soon

• renting a council or housing association home 

• renting from a private landlord

Whether you can get help from the council depends on things like your age, if you’re homeless or your immigration status.

If you apply for a council or housing association home, you might have to wait a long time - even if you’re a high priority. You’ll usually need to rent privately while you wait unless you’re homeless.

If you need to leave home because of violence, threats or abuse

You can get help from:

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 at any time

• Men's Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm

Calls to these numbers are free.

You can also contact other domestic abuse organisations online.

If you're homeless or threatened with homelessness

It’s usually worth applying to your local council for help if you're homeless - or if you’ll be homeless soon.

Depending on your situation, the council might:

• find somewhere for you to stay short term

• help you stay where you’re currently living - for example by talking to your landlord

• find somewhere for you to live long term - this might be council housing or renting from a private landlord

Check if you can apply for homeless help from the council.

Pwysig

If you aren't a British or Irish citizen

Before you contact your local council, it’s important to check if your immigration status lets you apply for homeless help.

If you apply when you aren’t allowed to, the Home Office might refuse any immigration applications you make in the future. In rare cases, they might take you to court or end your visa early.

Check if you can apply for homeless help from the council.

If you're homeless and the council won't house you

You’II need to consider finding a temporary place to stay if you don’t have anywhere you can stay tonight.

It’s worth asking friends or family members if you can stay with them while you find somewhere.

If you’ve slept outside overnight or you’re planning to sleep outside tonight

You can get help from Streetlink. They’ll help you get help from your local council or charities. You’ll need to tell Streetlink where you’re sleeping on their website. They’ll find you and help you find somewhere to stay.

You might be able to get a place to stay in a hostel, night shelter, refuge or bed and breakfast. You can ask your local council for contact details of places to stay. Find your local council on GOV.UK.

If the council have decided they won’t help you and you think they might be wrong, check if you can challenge the council’s homeless decision.

Getting help from social services

Social services must help you find somewhere to live if you’re 16 or 17 years old and don't have family or friends you can live with safely. 

Social services might give you housing help if your homeless application was rejected and any of the following apply:

• you’re responsible for a child who normally lives with you

• you’re ill, disabled or have mental health needs

• you’re 18 to 25 years old and you used to live in care

If you’re in one of these situations and you need a visa to be in the UK, you can still apply for help from social services - even if you have ‘no recourse to public funds’. You don’t need to have made a homeless application.

Applying for help from social services might affect your immigration status - you should talk to an adviser.

Renting from the council or a housing association

You can apply for a home through your local council. They might also call it ‘social housing’.

If your application is accepted, you’ll go on to a waiting list of people who need a home. Your council will then prioritise applications based on who needs a home most urgently. The council’s allocations scheme will give details of who gets priority for homes in the area.

If you get on the waiting list, there's no guarantee you'll get a home - or it could take many years. 

You could be offered a home owned by your local council or housing association.

You might have to apply to some housing associations directly instead of through the council - ask your council if there are any near you.

If your council has a long waiting list, they might ask if you want to apply for homes in other areas as well. You can be on several waiting lists at the same time and this might increase your chances of getting a home.

Check if you can get on the waiting list for a council home.

If you or a family member is disabled

Your local council will have social housing that is accessible. They might have a waiting list called an 'accessible housing register' you can join.

Accessible homes might have things like:

• step-free access

• a stair lift

• wider door frames

• lower worktops in the kitchen 

You can apply to join an accessible housing register anywhere in the country. You can also register in more than one area.

If your local council doesn’t have an accessible housing register, they should still have accessible homes.

Moving to a different council home

If you live in a council or housing association home you might be able to swap for something more suitable with another person. This is sometimes called a ‘mutual exchange’.

You might want to swap if:

• your home is too small for you

• your home doesn’t meet your health or disability needs

• your benefits have been reduced and you can’t afford your rent

• you need to move to a different area

Check if you can move to another council or housing association home.

Renting from a private landlord

The quickest way to find a property is on property search websites. You can search for the exact area you want and contact the letting agent if you want to view a property. You can also search online if you want to rent directly from a private landlord.

If it’s hard for you to look for a property online you could visit local estate agents. 

Starting to rent from a private landlord can be expensive. You’ll usually need to pay a deposit and rent in advance. 

If you can’t afford a rent deposit or rent in advance you might be able to get help from your local council.

Check the costs of starting to rent from a private landlord.

If you’re finding it difficult to rent privately you can check the Help to Rent database on the Crisis website.

If you decide to rent privately, it still might be worth checking if you can apply for a council home.

If you're going to be living with your landlord

If you live with your landlord and share living space with them - you’re a lodger.

This might be a cheaper way to rent but you don’t have many legal rights.

Check what rights lodgers have.

Affordable rent if you're saving to buy a home

You might be able to pay lower rent to help you save for a deposit for a home.

You can find out about Rent to Own on the Welsh Government website.

If you're finding things difficult

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You should talk to your GP if your housing problems are affecting your mental health. 

You can find other ways to get help with your mental health on the Mind website.

If you need to speak to someone 

You can speak to a trained volunteer at organisations like Samaritans or Shout.

Samaritans

Helpline: 116 123 (Monday to Sunday at any time)

Welsh Language Line: 0808 164 0123 (Monday to Sunday 7pm to 11pm)

Calls to Samaritans are free.

You can find other ways to get in touch with Samaritans on their website.

Shout

You can also text 'SHOUT' to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained Shout volunteer. Texts are free, anonymous and confidential from anywhere in the UK.

If you think it's an emergency

If you think your life or someone else’s is at risk, you should call 999 or go to A&E if you can.

You can also find a list of urgent mental health services on the Mind website.