If you are worried about losing your home in England, contact your council’s homelessness team as soon as you can. Explain where you are staying, when you may have to leave and whether the accommodation is safe for you and anyone who lives with you. The council can then establish what assistance it may owe under the homelessness legislation.
The Homelessness Act 2002 changed the framework, including the requirement for councils to review homelessness in their area and publish a strategy. Later legislation introduced the prevention and relief duties that shape the help an eligible applicant can receive today.
What happens when you ask for help
If you are eligible and threatened with homelessness within 56 days, the council generally has a duty to take reasonable steps to help you keep your home or find somewhere else. If you are already homeless and eligible, the relief duty is about helping you secure accommodation. The council should assess your circumstances and work with you on a personalised housing plan. The plan should set out practical steps for you and the council.
Emergency accommodation is a separate question. Tell the housing team straight away if you have nowhere safe to stay tonight, or if children, pregnancy, a disability or domestic abuse affect your situation. The council may have to arrange interim accommodation if it has reason to believe you may be homeless, eligible and in priority need.
What to bring and what to record
If you can, gather your tenancy agreement, any notice or messages asking you to leave and details of your income and housing costs. Explain any urgent safety or accessibility needs. If documents are missing, tell the council what you do have and ask what you can provide later.
Keep a record of when you applied, who you spoke to and what they asked you to do next. Ask for a copy of your housing plan and any formal decision. If you disagree with a decision, get independent housing advice promptly, as time limits can apply to requests for a review.