Advice for Homeless People
This website provides general information for anyone who may
be threatened with homelessness.
The law is very
complex. Independent advice is available from a
Citizens Advice Bureau, from
Shelter, or from a local
solicitor.
The sooner you seek advice the more
chance there is of preventing your homelessness.
The Council's Duties
If you are threatened with homelessness the Council
will:
- interview you and make an initial assessment on the day of your
application or the next working day if outside working hours;
- provide a written decision on your
application.
Enquiries
The Council will make enquiries to decide the type of help it
can provide. The questions we must ask are listed below with an
explanation of the terms used.
Accommodation
Everyone who is in housing need is encouraged to complete
an
Application
Form. which is available at any Council
office.
You can also
request a form by telephone.
The Council has an Allocation Policy to decide who is offered a
tenancy and an explanatory booklet will be provided with the
application form.
Due to the high demand for Council accommodation, most
families accepted as homeless are likely to be provided with
temporary accommodation until a permanent home is available.
Who is entitled to accommodation under the homelessness
legislation?
1. Are you eligible for
assistance?
Most people will be eligible for assistance unless they are
subject to immigration controls.
2. Are you homeless or
threatened with homelessness within 28 days?
You are homeless if you have no accommodation available in the
United Kingdom or elsewhere. This means:
- you have no accommodation you are legally entitled to occupy;
or
- you have accommodation but it is not reasonable for you to
continue to occupy it; or
- you could be threatened with homelessness if your landlord
gives you a Notice to Quit or your parents tell you to
leave.
3. Are you in Priority
need?
You are in priority need if any of the following apply:
- you have dependent children or are expecting a child;
- you are vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or
handicap or physical disability;
- you are 16 or 17 years of age;
- you have no accommodation as a result of an emergency, such as
fire or flood,·
- you are vulnerable by being institutionalised following periods
in the Armed Forces, being in prison, or as a result of being
looked after, accommodated or fostered.
- You are under 21 and were fostered, looked after or
accommodated by Children Services between the ages of 16 and
18
- Vulnerable as a result of violence, or threats of violence,
which means that it is unreasonable to remain in your
home.
4. Are you intentionally
homeless?
You are intentionally homeless if any of the following
apply:
- you have deliberately done, or failed to do, something and as a
result are no longer entitled to occupy accommodation;
- you have abandoned a property or deliberately not paid the rent
or mortgage.
5. Do you have a local
connection with South Lakeland?
If you do not have a local connection with South Lakeland,
another local authority may have a duty to provide
accommodation. Local connections could include
working in the area, living in the area for some time, or having
relatives living in South Lakeland.
When the Council has the answers to all five of these
questions it will make a decision. The
subsequent duties of the Council will vary depending upon the
decision reached.
Review of the decision
If you disagree with the decision made by the Council you can
request a review of this decision. Details are
provided with the decision letter.
Advice & Information
South Lakeland District Council will provide advice and
information to assist homeless people free of charge and attempt to
prevent homelessness whenever possible.
Housing Officers can provide advice and assistance in the
following areas:
- Security of tenure
- Homelessness
- Housing allocations
- Alternative housing options
- Relationship breakdown
- Domestic violence, relationship breakdown and housing
options
- Harassment and unlawful eviction
- Evictions possession proceedings
- Referral and sign-posting to other agencies
- Mortgage and rent arrears
- Other sources of advice and
information