If the council won't help
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland
This section explains the options you may have if you apply as homeless and the council says you're not entitled to help.
You may be able to challenge the council's decision
There could be various reasons why the council says it can't help. It could be because a decision has been made on your homelessness application that means the council has no further duties to help you. But councils do sometimes get it wrong. If you are in this situation, use our emergency housing rights checker to find out whether the council has followed the rules.
If you think you are entitled to help but the council says you're not, get advice immediately to check whether you can challenge the council's decision. Use our directory to find details of advice agencies in your area.
You may be entitled to help from social services
Certain groups of people may be able to get help from social services. You might be able to get help from social services if you:
- are under 18 years old
- have a dependant child
- have a physical or learning disability or mental health problems
- are an older person.
The help that social services provide may vary greatly from one council to another. The law does not specify exactly what social services have to do as it depends on individual needs. In practice getting help from social services can be difficult. It is a good idea to get advice before going to them.
You may have other emergency options
If it is possible for you to stay with friends or family, this is probably the best and safest option. It will give you more time to look for longer term accommodation.
Alternatively, an adviser may be able to help you to independently find short term or emergency accommodation in a hostel or bed and breakfast hotel.
If you are unable to get emergency accommodation or stay with friends or relatives, other options may include squatting or sleeping on the streets.
You may be able to get help to pay for emergency housing
You will have to pay rent for staying in a hostel or bed and breakfast hotel. If you are on benefits or a low income you may be able to claim housing benefit to help you pay.
Sometimes you need money up front before you can get accommodation. If you have no money you may be able to apply for a grant or loan from the social fund.
You may have other longer term housing options
There are various longer term housing options. These include:
Getting a permanent council or housing association place
In most areas, offers of permanent council and housing association tenancies are made through a council waiting list (sometimes known as the housing register). You need to fill in a form to get onto the waiting list, which is available from the council housing department.
Whether you will get a council or housing association property depends on your circumstances and the amount of accommodation that is available. Waiting lists are usually long. In areas with housing shortages you may have little hope of getting a council or housing association tenancy. If you are told you can't go on the waiting list, get advice. If the council has already said that it can't help you, you are not likely to have much chance of getting an offer of a permanent tenancy very quickly.
If you are in doubt about your situation, get advice from a Shelter advice centre, Citizens Advice or other local advice agency. These agencies can also help you check that your priority on the waiting list has been calculated correctly. Use our directory to find details of agencies in your area.
Private rented accommodation
Privately rented accommodation varies widely. In some areas it is cheap and plentiful but in other areas it can be hard to obtain and expensive.
Rents can be expensive in some areas. If you are on benefits or a low income, you need to be aware that housing benefit may not cover all of the rent and you will have to make up the difference.
Private rented accommodation is usually advertised in local papers, shop windows or through agencies. It is sometimes possible to find and move into a private rented place quite quickly. However, you often need a deposit and rent in advance. If you find a place through an agency, you may have to pay agency fees as well.
Private landlords often do not need a reason to get tenants to leave, although you will usually be entitled to notice and a court order before tenants have to leave. Please see the section on renting from a private landlord for more information.
Other long term options
You may want to consider other accommodation options such as buying a home, living in supported housing or living in a housing co-op. Get advice if you are considering any of these options. An adviser can tell you what may be available in your area, how to go about applying for accommodation, and what your legal rights may be. Use our directory to find details of advice agencies in your area.
