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England

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

Use our section 21 validity checker.

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

Use our tenancy status checker.

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

Use our homelessness checker.

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

Use our homeless rights checker.

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.

Use our homeless help tool.

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

Use our duty to refer checker.

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.

Use our council tenancy succession tool.

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

Use our guide to priority need and vulnerability.

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

Use our guide to breathing space moratoriums.

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

Use our guide to how to help someone in a financial crisis.

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

Use our guide to mortgage arrears.