What your Borough Council must do

> Once the council has interviewed you, if it believes you to be

> homeless,
> eligible and
> in priority need,

it has to provide you with emergency accommodation while it makes enquiries into the rest of your circumstances.

> The Council has to offer you somewhere reasonable, but this may not necessarily be in the area you would prefer. Under the Housing Act 1996, the Council are not obliged to find somewhere permanent to live. They only have a duty to accommodate you for two years.

> The council will make enquires into whether you became homeless through no fault of your own or deliberately, and also whether you have connection within the area.

> You cannot be asked to go to another council if:

> you or your family have been living in the area for at least six months,
> you work in the area,
> or you have recently returned to the area from abroad or the armed services.

> Once it has finished its enquiries, the council has to inform you in writing of its decision about whether it has a duty to house you or not. If it has made a decision and you think that it is wrong you can challenge it – this is called a review and the council must tell you how to request a review in there decision letter. If this happens, you should get advice.

> If the council does accept you as homeless the council will make you one offer, this can vary between boroughs. If you turn this offer down the council may not help you further, so it’s worth getting advice before you turn something down.

> If the council decides you don’t meet the criteria, it must give you advice and assistance on how to find other accommodation. This might be a list of landlords, accommodation agencies or hostels.

> Homeless legislation is complex, so if you don’t understand anything that you have been told, ask for it to be explained in straightforward terms.
Always make a note of who you have spoken to and if your not happy you can make a complaint or ask to speak to someone else.

Click on:
www.housemate.org.uk
www.shelternet.org.uk
www.homelesspages.org.uk

> Social Services might Help you
> Borough Housing Departments

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