Find a home after repossession

Ask your local council for help if you are homeless.

Contact the council as soon as you might lose your home.

Not everyone gets housing from the council. But they should work with you to help you find a home.

You usually get emergency housing if you:

• have dependent children who live with you most of the time

• are pregnant

• are classed as vulnerable

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.

If you cannot pass a credit check you might be asked for a guarantor.

Find out how to rent with a poor credit history.

Renting from a council or housing association

Ask your council if you can join the housing waiting list. This is sometimes called the housing register.

Waiting times for social housing can be very long.

Your priority on the waiting list depends on your circumstances and how many social housing properties are available where you live.

Claim benefits to help with rent

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

• working age

• on a low income

Speak to a benefits adviser about what you might get. Sometimes the value of your previous home can affect this.

Universal credit includes a housing element to help with rent. It does not always cover the whole rent especially if you rent privately.  

Extra help with rent

You could get extra help by asking your council for a housing payment. 

You can apply for a budgeting advance if you've claimed any of these 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

When your home is repossessed it stays on your credit record for up to 6 years.

You could get another mortgage in this time but it can be difficult to find a lender in the first few years.

It is easier after about 3 years if your finances improve. 

You 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.