Tools and guides
Find a quick answer with our checker tools and adviser guides
Tools
Our checker tools provide a quick answer to common questions for advisers, including whether a section 21 notice is valid, what tenancy or licence an occupier has and what homelessness rights a person has.
Check if a section 21 notice is valid
Our section 21 checker tool can help you find out if a section 21 notice is valid.
The tool:
gives a quick answer whether a section 21 notice is invalid
provides information about the reasons why the notice might be invalid
links to relevant pages on Shelter Legal
Check a tenancy type
Our tenancy status checker can help you establish what type of tenancy or licence an occupier has.
The tool:
gives a quick answer on what kind of tenancy or licence an occupier has
links to relevant pages on Shelter Legal
Check if someone is homeless or threatened with homelessness
Our homelessness checker can help you check if someone is legally homeless or threatened with homelessness when applying for assistance to a local authority.
The tool:
gives a quick answer whether a person would be considered homeless or threatened with homelessness
provides legal references at the end of each answer
links to relevant pages on Shelter Legal
Check if someone is eligible for homeless help
Our homeless rights checker can help you find out what homeless rights someone has based on their immigration or residence status.
The tool:
gives a quick answer whether someone is eligible for homeless help
provides legal references at the end of each answer
links to relevant pages on Shelter Legal
Check council homelessness duties
Our homeless help tool is designed for members of the public to get a quick answer on what homeless help they might be entitled to from their local authority.
The tool links to relevant advice pages for the public.
Check if you have a duty to refer
Our duty to refer checker can help professionals subject to the public authority duty to refer to find out:
if someone is legally homeless or threatened with homelessness
what the local authority must do on receiving a referral or a homeless application
Check who can succeed to a council tenancy
Our secure tenancy succession tool is designed for members of the public to get a quick answer on whether they can inherit a council tenancy.
The tool links to relevant advice pages for the public.
Guides
Our guides are for frontline advisers dealing with questions on vulnerability and priority need, breathing space moratoriums and mortgage arrears.
Priority need and vulnerability guide
This guide explains:
who has a priority need because they are vulnerable
how to advise and support a vulnerable person applying as homeless
what the options are if a local authority refuses to assist a vulnerable person
Breathing space guide
This guide explains:
how a breathing space or mental health crisis moratorium affects the possession process for tenants in rent arrears
how a moratorium affects each stage of a possession claim
what a landlord can and cannot do during a moratorium
How to help someone in a financial crisis guide
This guide explains how and when to:
check benefits and income
help someone apply for short-term financial help
refer or signpost for support
negotiate with a lender or landlord
Mortgage arrears guide
This guide is for the public. It explains:
the rules mortgage lenders must follow
how to deal with financial problems
what to do if a lender starts court action