Homeless help from the council
Who can get longer term housing
Before the council decide if you have a right to longer term housing they should:
look into your situation properly
help with a personal housing plan
This takes at least 8 weeks. It could take longer if you ask for help as soon as you know you could be homeless.
You could have a right to emergency housing during this time if the council think you have a priority need.
Housing offers under a personal housing plan
The council might find or offer you longer term housing while they help you under your personal plan.
This could be a:
housing association or council home
private tenancy, including a room in a shared house or HMO
hostel or supported housing where you can stay for at least 6 months
If the council offer an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) with a private landlord at this stage, it must have a fixed term of at least 6 months.
You should accept any final offer of longer term housing.
You can ask for a review if it's not suitable.
If you're still homeless after 8 weeks of help
After 8 weeks of homeless help under a personal housing plan, the council decide if you have a right to longer term housing. This is called the 'main housing duty'.
It means the council must give you somewhere suitable to live if you meet the conditions.
You need to:
have a priority need
not be 'intentionally homeless'
If you do not have a local connection, the council could ask a different council to help you with longer term housing.
They cannot do this if you'd be at risk of domestic abuse or other violence in that area.
The council's decision letter
The council must write to you when they finish looking into things.
The letter tells you if the council accept the main housing duty.
If the council decide you cannot get longer term help, the letter must explain why not.
If the council accept the main housing duty
You usually have to stay in temporary housing until the council make a final housing offer.
A final housing offer could be a:
housing association or council home
private assured shorthold tenancy for at least 1 year
Find out more about final offers of housing under the main housing duty.
If the letter says you will not get longer term help
You have 3 weeks to ask for a review.
You could get free legal help with a review.
Last updated: 9 January 2024
