Find a home after repossession

You'll need to find alternative accommodation if you can't delay your home being repossessed.

Homelessness help from the council

You can ask the council for help if you are homeless.

Not everyone gets housing when homeless. 

The council will assess your situation and work with you to help you find a home.

You usually qualify for emergency housing if you have children, a pregnant woman or a vulnerable adult in your household. 

Renting from a private landlord

Look online or use a letting agent to find a private rented home.

Most agents and many landlords run a credit check before offering a tenancy.

If you can't pass a credit check you might be asked to provide a guarantor.

A guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you can't. 

Find out how to rent with a poor credit history.

Renting from a council or housing association

You can apply for council or housing association housing by joining the council's housing list. This is sometimes called the housing register.

Most councils have online application forms.

To get a place on the list you need to:

• meet immigration conditions
• qualify under the local council's policy

Waiting lists can be very long. Your priority on the waiting list depends on your circumstances and how much accommodation is available.

Claim benefits to help with rent

You can usually claim universal credit if you or your partner are:

• working age
• on a low income

Universal credit includes a housing element to help with rent. It won't always cover your full rent especially if you rent privately.  

You may be able to get extra help by applying for a discretionary housing payment. 

You can apply for a budgeting advance if you've claimed any of the following benefits for at least 6 months:

• universal credit
• employment and support allowance (ESA) - income related
• jobseeker's allowance (JSA) - income based  
• income support
• pension credit

A budgeting advance is an interest free loan that can be used for one off expenses such as rent in advance or removal costs.

Buying another home after repossession

When you're repossessed it stays on your credit record for up to 6 years.

It's not impossible to get another mortgage during this time but it can be very difficult to find a lender in the first few years after repossession.

After about 3 years it becomes easier if your finances have improved. 

You will probably need to pay a:

• larger deposit  
• higher interest rate

Some brokers specialise in finding a lender if you can afford a mortgage but have a poor credit rating.