Practical resources

A landlord can use a section 21 notice to end an assured shorthold tenancy without proving any grounds.

Tools and guides

Get a quick answer using our interactive tools and adviser guides.

Tenancy checker - a landlord can only use a section 21 notice if the tenant has an assured shorthold tenancy. Check your client's tenancy type using this tool.

Section 21 validity checker - find out if a section 21 notice is valid by answering some questions.

Shelter Legal reference pages

Shelter Legal is a guide to housing law for professionals. It covers topics such as homeless applications, possession and benefits.

What makes a section 21 notice invalid - a landlord cannot use the section 21 process if they have served an invalid notice.

Section 21 possession process - the process a landlord must follow to evict an assured shorthold tenant after serving a section 21 notice.

Factsheets for your client

Download or print our PDF factsheets to share with your client.

Section 21 notice periods

Section 21 restrictions

Section 21 defences

Section 21 accelerated proceedings

Shelter advice for the public

Shelter's advice pages for the public are clear, accurate and easy to understand. You can print them out or share them by email.

Section 21 eviction guide - a guide for tenants covering checking a section 21 notice, how to deal with the landlord, and staying after a notice expires.

Challenging a section 21 notice in court - practical information for tenants, including court form downloads and advice about the court.

A person who is homeless or threatened with homelessness can make an application for help to their local authority.

Tools and guides

Get a quick answer using our interactive tools and adviser guides.

Check if someone is homeless or threatened with homelessness - find out if someone is legally homeless or threatened with homelessness when applying for homeless assistance

Homeless rights checker - find out what homeless rights someone has based on their immigration or residence status by answering some questions

Check what homeless council help you can get - a person homeless or threatened with homelessness can use this tool to find out what help they can get from their council.

Advising on vulnerability and priority need - a guide for frontline advisers explaining who has a priority need because they are vulnerable, how to support a vulnerable homeless applicant, and the options if a local authority refuses to help.

Shelter Legal reference pages

Shelter Legal is a guide to housing law for professionals. It covers topics such as homeless applications, possession and benefits.

Homeless application process - a fully referenced outline of the homeless application process including how to apply, the local authority duties, and challenging decisions.

Template letters for your client

Your client can copy these example letters into an email or print them out.

Make a homeless application - contact a local authority to apply as homeless.

Factsheets for your client

Download or print our PDF factsheets to share with your client.

Applying as homeless

Applying as homeless: flowchart

Council inquiries

Homelessness tests

Immigration and residence rules

Priority need

Intentional homelessness

Local connection

Shelter advice for the public

Shelter's advice pages for the public are clear, accurate and easy to understand. You can print them out or share them by email.

Guide to homeless help from the council - a guide for homeless applicants, including how to ask the council for help, homeless assessments, and challenging a council's decision.

A mortgage lender might seek possession of a property if the homeowner accrues mortgage arrears.

Tools and guides

Get a quick answer using our interactive tools and adviser guides.

Time orders toolkit - this toolkit helps borrowers' representatives ask the court to make a time order in response to a mortgage possession claim, including template defences and counterclaims.

Time orders duty adviser guide - this guide provides fast answers to common questions that might come up for advisers and solicitors giving advice about time orders on the housing possession duty scheme.

Shelter Legal reference pages

Shelter Legal is a guide to housing law for professionals. It covers topics such as homeless applications, possession and benefits.

Where to get advice about mortgage arrears - practical advice to help someone facing eviction due to mortgage arrears find help from an advice agency, local authority, or court duty scheme.

Mortgage possession proceedings - process for mortgage possession proceedings including types of orders the court can make to allow a borrower to keep their home.

Factsheets and guides for your client

Download or print our PDF factsheets to share with your client.

Are you worried about your mortgage? (in partnership with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

Mortgage arrears (in partnership with National Debtline)

Mortgage arrears: get time to sell

Mortgage payment problems

Shelter advice for the public

Shelter's advice pages for the public are clear, accurate and easy to understand. You can print them out or share them by email.

Mortgage arrears and repossession - practical information about missed payments and arrears, how to deal with court action, and what happens at the hearing.

A person without a fixed address can struggle to open a bank account as they often don't have proof of identity or address.

No fixed address bank accounts

A charity partner can help its clients without proof of ID or a fixed address get a basic bank account with a participating bank.

No fixed address bank accounts - what is a no fixed address bank account, and how to support a client to open an account with HSBC or Lloyds.

Shelter Legal reference pages

Shelter Legal is a guide to housing law for professionals. It covers topics such as homeless applications, possession and benefits.

Banking and financial services - applying for a basic bank account, proof of ID and address to open a bank account, and how to complain.

Shelter advice for the public

Shelter's advice pages for the public are clear, accurate and easy to understand. You can print them out or share them by email.

How to open a bank account if you're homeless - how to show proof of ID or temporary address, apply for a basic bank account, and complain about unfair treatment. This guide includes a video and template letters.