Your location: Shelter guides to housing issues
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. This page applies to England only. Get advice relating to Scotland
Shelter produces a series of handy booklets giving information about a range of housing issues. Our guides give practical, action-focused tips and avoid using specialist housing jargon.
Guides can be downloaded free, or organisations wishing to purchase bulk orders of the guides can do so through our bookshop.
Homeless? Read this
The rights you may have to get help from the council if you have nowhere to stay or are about to lose your home. Read more 
Finding a place to live
How to get temporary housing and how to find a more permanent home. Read more
Private tenants - paying a deposit
What a deposit is for, how and when it should be returned, and what you can do if your landlord tries to keep it unfairly. Read more
Housing benefit and LHA
How to claim, how the amount you get is calculated, and what you can do if you think a decision about your claim is wrong. Read more
Rent arrears
Having problems paying your rent? Find out what you can do, and whether the landlord can evict you. Read more
Mortgage arrears
How to deal with mortgage arrears. Helpful if you need to work our your options, or are worried about your lender taking court action. Read more
Young people and housing
This guide is specifically written for people aged 16 to 25. Know your rights! Read more
Council tenancies
Information about how to get a council place and the rights that council tenants have. Read more
Housing association tenancies
The rights that a housing association tenancy gives you, and how to apply for one. Read more
Private tenancies
This guide gives information for people who rent their homes from private landlords. Read more
Gas and fire safety
Information about gas and fire safety regulations for people who rent their homes. Read more
Harassment and illegal eviction
What you may be able to do if your landlord is breaking the law. Read more
Getting repairs done
Who's responsible for getting the work done, and how to take action if the landlord won't carry out repairs that are their responsibility. Read more
Relationship breakdown
Housing rights of couples who are splitting up. Read more
Asylum seekers and refugees
Details of the help and support you can get if you are an asylum seeker, a refugee, or an appealing or unsuccessful asylum seeker. Read more
Agricultural tenancies
This leaflet briefly explains the housing rights you have if your home is provided as part of your job on a farm. Read more
