Accessing accommodation

Allocation of local authority housing

Applying for local authority housing in England and Wales. Read more 

RSLs and housing associations

A tenant's preserved right to buy on a property transferred from a local authority to a registered social landlord. Read more 

Private rented accommodation

Information about advising people who are looking for accommodation in the private rented sector. Read more 

Accommodation agencies

Accommodation and letting agencies: what they are, how to use them and the legislation that controls what services they are allowed to charge for. Read more 

Housing co-operatives

Housing co-operatives and how they work. Information on how people can get housed in housing co-operative accommodation and what security of tenure occupiers have. Information about setting up a housing co-operative. Read more 

Paying for accommodation

Paying for rented accommodation. Read more 

Older people

Options for older people who wish to remain in their present accommodation, including how to get support at home, how adaptations to the home may be carried out, and how income may be raised from the home. Read more 

People with disabilities

Housing options available to people with disabilities and the issues that disabled people may face in relation to housing. Read more 

Young people and care leavers

Housing rights and options of young people and care leavers, including the duties of local authorities towards them under the homelessness legislation and the Children Act 1989 and Children (Leaving Care) Act 2002. Read more 

Asylum seekers & refugees

Information about the housing and support rights of asylum seekers, refugees, and other people from abroad who have applied for asylum and are awaiting a decision, or who have received a decision about their stay in the UK. Read more 

Lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people

Problems LGBT people may face in accessing and keeping accommodation. Guidance and legislation that may be helpful to LGBT clients (given that there is as yet no legislation protecting them from discrimination in the provision of goods and services). Read more 

Emergency accommodation

Options available to people who need accommodation urgently because they are homeless or about to become homeless. Advising people in emergency situations. The rights an occupier may have to stay in her/his current accommodation; local authority housing and advice duties; and other avenues of statutory help. Read more