Your location: Overview of council enquiries
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. This page applies to England only. Get advice relating to Scotland
This section gives an overview of the enquiries the council will have to make if you apply as homeless.
You can get an idea of how your application might be assessed by using our free online assessment.
What does the council have to check first?
In order to check what help it has to give you, the council will have to look into your personal situation in detail. The council first has to check whether you are:
Each of these terms has a special legal meaning. If the council believes that you meet these criteria, it has to provide emergency accommodation from the date you make your application until it has finished checking out your situation.
Once it has finished its enquiries it will have to find longer-term accommodation for you if it is satisfied that you are also not intentionally homeless, and that you have a local connection with the area.
What information will the council look at?
The council will look at the information you provided when you made your application and any documents you bring with you. Contact a local advice centre if you need help providing the information the council needs to make its enquiries. Use our directory to find one in your area.
The council may also contact people and organisations that know about your housing situation to find out more about your circumstances. This might include:
- your previous landlord or mortgage lender
- any agencies that have provided support for you in the past
If there are people you do not want the council to contact because, for example, you have been experiencing violence or threats, you should say so.
How long will it take?
There is no time limit for how long it may take the council to do this. However, except for very complicated cases, enquiries should not take longer than 33 working days. Most enquiries take much less time than this.
Remember, the council has to provide emergency accommodation from the date you apply until it finishes its enquiries if it believes that you may be:
- homeless, and
- eligible for assistance, and
- in priority need.
If the council doesn't provide accommodation while it makes its enquiries and you have nowhere to stay, get advice immediately. Use our directory to find an adviser in your area.
