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If I apply to the Council as homeless do I just go on the waiting list?
No. Simply going on the waiting list means building up points, often over many years, before being offered a place. Applying as homeless is an emergency application where you are asking for immediate temporary accommodation to be followed, in due course, by permanent accommodation.
I am staying with friends, can I apply to the council as homeless?
You can qualify as homeless if you are staying with family or friends on a temporary basis. You will, however, still need to satisfy the other tests to qualify for emergency housing See: Applying to the Council as Homeless
I am living in a squat, can I apply to the council as homeless?
Yes because you do not have permission to live where you are living. You will, however, still need to satisfy the other tests to qualify for emergency housing. See: Applying to the Council as Homeless
I have been given notice to quit by my landlord, can I apply to the council as homeless?
Yes, if your landlord has given you proper notice which ends within 28 days. You will, however, still need to satisfy the other tests to qualify for emergency housing. See: Applying to the Council as Homeless
I have been sleeping rough in this area for the past year, can I apply to the local council?
Sleeping in the area for this length of time might allow you to claim you have a ‘local connection’ with the local council. You will, however, still need to satisfy the other tests to qualify for emergency housing See: Applying to the Council as Homeless
Do I have to apply to the council for the area where I live?
You should usually apply to the council housing department for the area you are living in. If you are sleeping rough you should usually apply to the council for the area you most often sleep in However, you do not have to apply to your local council. Any council has to accept an application from you. You might, for example, want to be housed in an area where you have friends or get medical treatment If you are thinking about applying to an area outside of where you normally live, it is best to get advice. This is because the Local Connection rules are more likely to be raised.
How long do council’s take to decide homeless applications?
The council should usually make a decision within 30 days but most decisions are much quicker than this.
How long might it take to get permanent accommodation from the council?
It might take at least two years to get to this stage.
Will I need a bank account if I rent privately?
You may need a bank account if the landlord requires you to pay rent by standing order. This might be the case if you are working but also if you are claiming Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance which is to be paid directly to you by the Council. However the landlord is not likely to require a bank account if Housing Benefit is to be paid directly to him/her — see: Local Housing Allowance
Will I need references if I want to rent privately?
Some landlords will ask for references. This might relate to your ability to pay the rent such as bank details or a letter from your employer. Or it might relate to your character such as a letter from a former landlord.
Where can I find private rented flats advertised?
For details of where to look see: Private Renting / Where to find places
If I share a property, what is the legal position?
The legal rights of sharers are different depending on how the tenancy began: If you all signed one tenancy agreement when you moved in then you will be joint tenants. This means, for example, that if one tenant fails to pay their rent then you could all be evicted. Similarly, if one joint tenant gives notice to quit, then everyone will have to leave unless they can agree new tenancies with the landlord. If everyone signed separate agreements then they have their own separate tenancies. In these circumstances, you cannot be evicted if a fellow tenant fails to pay their rent and do not have to leave if they leave. If you just move in with someone who has a tenancy but you don’t have any agreement with the landlord, then you will be a subtenant or licensee of the main tenant. Your rights will be limited, for example, you could be asked to leave on ‘reasonable notice’. If you take a room with a resident landlord, it may be that you only have a licence and not a tenancy, depending on the amount of sharing involved and the amount of control the landlord exercises over the premises.
Do I need to be on benefits to get into a hostel?
Unless you have a job and are applying to a ‘working hostel’ then the answer is almost always ‘yes’. You will usually need proof that you are on benefits and proof of ID.
What do hostels cost?
Anywhere between £100 and £350 per week. This is split between the amount charged for rent and the amount charged for the support that you receive in the hostel Most residents are on benefits. Housing Benefit covers all or most of the rent and a separate ‘supporting people’ payment from the local council covers the cost of support. Often, however, Housing Benefit does not cover all of the rent (commonly the cost of meals provided). The hostel might therefore ask you to pay anywhere between £5 and £20 per week from your Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support of Employment Support Allowance / Incapacity Benefit. This can be a challenge so you should think carefully about budgeting before accepting a place. Hostel staff will usually help you to apply for Housing Benefit If the hostel does not provide meals, you should think about how much it will cost to eat each week when doing your budgetting
How do I get into a hostel if I’m not working?
If you are not working, you will usually need to be ‘referred’ into a hostel by another person or organization. This might, for example, be a street outreach worker, a homeless daycentre worker or an advice agency. Street outreach workers are people who work out on the streets, identifying, advising and helping the homeless. Some are linked to daycentres. They can be a first point of contact for getting referred to a hostel. For details of homeless daycentres and housing advice agencies see Getting Help and Advice There are some ‘direct access’ hostels where you can just ask at the door or telephone to find out if there are any spaces. A list of these can be found at thepavement.org.uk
Are there any hostels where I can apply directly?
There are some ‘direct access’ hostels where you can just ask at the door or telephone to find out if there are any spaces. A list of these can be found at thepavement.org
What does ‘resettlement’ mean?
This word is used to describe the process whereby you might be ultimately moved from a hostel into your own, self-contained accommodation. You may be assigned a ‘resettlement worker’ for this purpose. Not all hostels have resettlement workers. Hostels are often described as the ‘First Stage’ in the resettlement process. You are likely to go through ‘Second Stage’ (for example, sharing in a smaller house or hostel) before you might be given your own place. This whole process can often take two years.
What are ‘nightshelters’?
These provide basic accommodation for a few nights and may provide some food. They are often set up temporarily in churches or other public buildings. Many nightshelters only open in the winter months between November and March. Most of them are free so you won’t need to be receiving benefits. You can usually access nightshelters directly by just turning up although they often fill up so you might need to get there in good time. With some nightshelters you need to be referred in by a street outreach worker or other advice agency. This applies, for example, to the Connection at St Martins in Trafalgar Square. For a list of nightshelters see thepavement.org.uk . Details of nightshelters can also be obtained from homeless daycentres or other advice agencies. See Getting Help and Advice.
What rights do I have in a squat?
Squatting is defined as occupying property or land without the owner’s permission, however it is not illegal. You will be committing a trespass and therefore can be removed easily. Usually the landlord will not have to get a court order before evicting you but if they do need to go to court this will often be a quick process. You may commit a criminal act if any violence is used to gain access to the property or if damage is caused to the property. It is therefore advisable to find a property that you can gain access to easily. It is also better to find out who owns the property and what they intend to do with it, if possible. Some landlords might agree to let you stay temporarily. Gas, water and electricity suppliers should be contacted in the proper way. Simply using these services without doing so is illegal. Squatters can still apply to the local Council as homeless because they do not have a legal right to occupy any property. Squatting as part of an organized local group is usually better. For more information on squatting see the website of the Advisory Service for Squatters at squatter.org.uk
What are housing coops?
These are groups of tenants who collectively run the property they live in. This includes issues of repairs, setting rent levels and deciding on new tenants. The rent may be reasonable and you will have a say in how things work. However, vacancies in housing co-ops are quite rare. Information on local housing co-ops can be obtained through the local council housing unit or through a local advice agency. See Getting Help and Advice.
What are Foyers?
These are a type of good quality hostel for young people where help is also given with education and finding work. The age range is usually 16 – 25. They vary in size. Some might have 20 residents, others over a hundred. Residents usually stay between 9 and 18 months. Help is given to find follow-on accommodation. Involvement in education and training activities is central to the foyer idea. Foyers usually have contacts with careers services and local employers for work experience. To obtain a place in a foyer, you must agree to take part in relevant educational and training activities. Rents in foyers are around £100 per week. Most of this can be covered by Housing Benefit. However, the foyer will usually charge you an amount for meals or other services not covered by Housing Benefit. This could be between £5 and £20 a week. You will therefore need to budget for this out of your Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support or Incapacity Benefit. There are waiting lists for most foyers. For most foyers in London you will need to be ‘referred’ through the council, another hostel or an advice agency. Some YMCA foyers are ‘direct access’ where you can just telephone or call in. For information on local foyers contact the council or a local housing advice centre. You can also look at the Foyer Federation website – foyer.net
What can Housing Benefit cover?
It can cover your rent but not any charges for heating, hot water, lighting, food or meals provided, laundry, or care and support
I am aged under 25, I hear there are restrictions on the Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance I can claim?
If you are single and aged under 25, your maximum rent, for calculating Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance, will usually be based on what you would pay for a single room in a shared house, even if you are living in a flat of your own. This can leave a significant shortfall. This rule might not apply in some cases, for example, if you rent from the council or a housing association, or if you are aged under 22 and have spent time in care since the age of 16.
Can Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance be backdated?
If you want payment of benefits to be backdated, you must ask for this in your original claim form You will have to include a letter with your claim form explaining why you could not have claimed earlier It is not usually enough to say – ‘I didn't know that I could claim’. You need reasons such as: your English is not very good; you had health problems; or you were given incorrect advice
What are rent deposit guarantee schemes?
They are schemes which usually offer a written guarantee to a landlord. This guarantees that if you fail to pay rent or damage property, the scheme will compensate the landlord. This gets round the problem of you being unable to pay a cash deposit. If the scheme does have to compensate the landlord, you will have to pay the scheme back. Many of these schemes are run by local councils or charities.
Where can I find rent deposit schemes?
For information and details of schemes run by local councils see Local Council Private Rented sector schemes. For information and details of schemes run by charities see Private Rented sector schemes run by charities.
What is the National Deposit Protection Scheme?
This scheme protects you where you pay a cash deposit to a private landlord. It only applies if you have an ‘assured shorthold tenancy’ but this covers most private tenancies.
Can I get a budgeting loan to pay for a deposit or rent in advance?
Yes. One of the reasons you can apply for a budgeting loan is rent in advance (but you cannot get a budgeting loan for a deposit).
How do I apply for a budgeting loan?
You apply on form SF500. You can get a copy from your local jobcentre or download a copy here. Make sure you include all the information requested about your personal circumstances Decisions are usually made within one week
Where can I find out about furniture projects?
Find details of London furniture projects by going to the London Furniture Re-use website at lcrn.org.uk You can also ask your council housing advice centre or homeless daycentre for information about local projects – see Getting Help and Advice.
Can I get a Community Care grant to help me pay for furniture and equipment?
You might be able to get one. For more advice see here |