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If your home is repossessed and you can't delay or stop the eviction, you will need to find alternative accommodation. If you have lost your home because of mortgage arrears or other debt problems, this may make it harder to find a place to rent or buy in the future, as most lenders are likely to refuse to lend to you.

If you need help, use our directory to find a Shelter advice centre, Citizens Advice or other advice centre in your area. We can also provide you with details of your local council's offices, in case you need to make a homelessness application.

What are my housing options?

You may be able to stay with family or friends for a while, but you will probably need to find long-term accommodation that you can afford. Your options may include:

• buying a more affordable property
• applying as homeless
• renting from a private landlord
• applying for a permanent council or housing association place
• moving into a housing co-op or supported housing.

If you are on a low income and you move into rented accommodation, you may be eligible for housing benefit.

Can I buy another property?

If you buy another property while you still have an outstanding debt to your previous lender, then your old lender may be able to put a charge on your new home and claim part of the proceeds when it is sold. If the court made a money judgment when your previous home was repossessed, there is no time limit for when your previous lender can do this. If you are in this situation, contact a local advice centre.

You will have to tell any new lender that your last home was repossessed, so getting a new mortgage could be difficult. It might be worth applying to a few different lenders, but you will have to tell them if your previous application was refused. A specialist mortgage broker may be more likely to find a lender who is willing to give you a mortgage. However, in many cases you will have to provide a larger than normal deposit, and may be charged higher than normal interest rates.

Alternatively, you might be able to get a smaller mortgage and/or buy a place through a homeownership scheme where for example you own a share of the property, as opposed to buying it outright. Contact your council or a local advice service to find out whether there are any schemes operating in your area.

Your local Citizens Advice or Shelter advice centre may be able to assist you. Use our directory to find services in your area.

Can I get help from the council?

Local councils have a legal duty to help some people who are homeless or about to lose their homes. They may be able to provide advice, emergency accommodation and/or longer term housing. Use our free assessment to find out what help you might be entitled to from your local council.

The rules on what sort of help the council has to give you are complicated. Your rights will depend on your personal circumstances, but at the very least your local council has to look into your situation and give you advice to help you find a home. In addition, if the council thinks that you fall into one of the groups of people who are in priority need then they should provide you with emergency accommodation while they look into your situation.

However, the council could decide that you are intentionally homeless because you didn't pay your mortgage, in which case they will only have to house you for a short time (normally 28 days, but this can vary). If this happens, or you think you will need to ask the council for help, contact an advice centre immediately.

An adviser might be able to help you persuade the council that you did everything you could to keep your home and that you lost it because it was unaffordable for you to continue to make your mortgage payments. Some people can get help from their local council’s social services department, even if the council’s housing department won't help them. An adviser can check whether this applies to you.

Can I rent from a private landlord?

Privately rented accommodation varies widely. In some areas it is cheap and plentiful, and it might be possible to find a place and move in quite quickly. In other areas it can be difficult to find, and may be in poor condition. Rents can be expensive. There is no legal limit to how much landlords can charge to begin with, but there are rules about how often they can increase the rent.

Many private landlords run credit checks on prospective tenants. If your home was repossessed because of mortgage arrears, it could be more difficult to find a landlord who is willing to rent to you.

If you find a place, you will probably have to pay rent in advance and a deposit. Many local councils run schemes to help with these payments. Alternatively, if you are on benefits or have a low income, you can apply to the social fund for a loan to cover rent in advance. You will have to pay it back – usually a fixed amount each week.

Whether you get a loan or not depends on your circumstances and how much money the social fund has in their budget. Contact your local Shelter advice centre, Citizens Advice or your local council to find out if there are any schemes operating in your area.

Can I get a council or housing association place?

In most areas, you can only get a council or housing association tenancy through a waiting list (the housing register). Some people are not eligible to apply including:

• certain people from abroad
• people who are guilty of serious unacceptable behaviour (ie antisocial behaviour or serious rent arrears).

To get onto the waiting list you need to fill in an application form, which you can get from the council's housing department. If you have problems applying, you should contact your local Shelter advice centre, Citizens Advice Bureau, or another local advice service. Use our directory to find help in your local area.

Waiting lists are often very long. How much priority you get on the waiting list will depend on your circumstances and how much accommodation is available. In some areas there is a lot of accommodation available, but in other areas you may have little realistic hope of being offered a place at all. You will probably need to look at other options, such as renting from a private landlord, particularly if you need to move quickly.

What other long-term options are there?

You might want to consider other accommodation options such as supported housing or living in a housing co-op. Contact a Shelter advice centre, Citizens Advice or other advice centre if you are considering these options. They can tell you what is available in your area and how to apply. Use our directory to find advice services in your area.

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