Advice if you might become homeless

We provide specialist advice on the rights and responsibilities of private tenants, landlords and agents. 

We will also investigate allegations of harassment and illegal evictions within the borough’s private rented sector.

You should contact us to arrange a meeting as soon as you believe you may become homeless. We can advise and assist if you are at risk of losing your home or worried about your current housing situation. 

Some of the areas we can offer support with include:

• checking if your tenancy deposit is protected
• explaining the terms of your tenancy agreement
• disrepair and safety standards
• harassment from your landlord or agent
• threat of eviction
• retaliatory evictions
• rent arrears

Most people have an assured shorthold tenancy (AST). If you do not know what type of tenancy you have, use Shelter's tenancy checker tool.

Before you contact us

You should try to speak to your landlord or agent, to see if the problem can be sorted out. Email or write to them to identify what the problem is and how you can resolve it. You can do this in the following scenarios.

Follow up the letter with a phone call or email within a week. If the landlord or agent has responded, write down what their response was and if they want to discuss a possible solution. Keep copies of any email or letter they have sent to you as we will want to see them.

Write down the dates and details of any contact between you and the landlord or agent.

When you meet us

You will need to bring the following documents:

• your tenancy agreement
• documents you were given when you signed the tenancy (such as the Energy Performance Certificate and the Gas Safety Certificate)
• Section 21 notice
• any paperwork regarding a deposit if you paid one
• emails or letters you have sent to and received from the landlord or agent

At the meeting, we have a duty to:

• assess the circumstances of your homelessness
• identify your housing and support needs
• work with you to try to prevent your homelessness or support you to find somewhere to live

We will provide you with a Personal Housing Plan, which will explain where we can assist and what you can do to help yourself. This might include appointments with Jobcentre Plus or other organisations.

In some circumstances, we can access funding if a small financial payment can resolve the situation.

If the issue cannot be resolved

For us to be legally obliged to provide you with accommodation, we need to be satisfied that you:

• are eligible
• are homeless
• are in priority need
• have not made yourself intentionally homeless

If you have to leave your tenancy, you will almost certainly have to consider renting from a landlord in the private rented sector. We will work with you to identify which areas are affordable for you and the likelihood of securing accommodation.

We are able to provide assistance through our Let's Rent schemes for you to secure alternative accommodation in the private rented sector. If you really want social housing, we can work with you to explore where this may still be available.