Common issues

Housing-related issues that commonly arise when advising young people. These pages set out the legal rights of young people facing a particular problem, and give practical advice on how advisers can help.

Emergencies

How a young person can be assisted when they have no accommodation and will have to sleep rough that night. Read more 

Gatekeeping

Gatekeeping is the name given where a council refuses to take a homelessness application and/or provide interim accommodation where they have a duty to do so. This page looks at how advisers can help young people who find themselves in this situation. Read more 

Homelessness applications

This page explains the process of applying as homeless for young people and how advisers can support a young person in making an application. Read more 

Homelessness reviews

This page explains what a homelessness review is, when a review can be requested, and how advisers can support a young person with a review. Read more 

Intentional homelessness

This page explains what the law says about intentional homelessness, and how advisers can help young people who have been found, or are at risk of being found, intentionally homeless. Read more 

Leaving custody

This page looks at the law where a young person will be homeless on leaving custody or secure accommodation, and how advisers can help them. Read more 

Local connection

When a young person makes a homelessness application, the council can, in some circumstances, refer them to another council. This page explains when councils can make a local connection referral. Read more 

Paying for accommodation

This page explains how young people can get help paying for their accommodation when they are on a low income, and how advisers can help them to access this help. Read more 

Priority need

What is meant by priority need, and how advisers can help young people who need advice on issues around priority need. Read more 

Suitability of accommodation

What the law says about suitability of accommodation, and what action advisers can take when the council have offered a young homeless person unsuitable accommodation. Read more 

Tenancy deposit schemes

Information about schemes to protect deposits paid on assured shorthold tenancy. Read more