Apply for housing if you become homeless

You may be able to apply for a home owned by us or a housing association.

Contents

Find out if you qualify for housing support

We can help if you:

  • have a right to stay in the UK
  • have a connection to Woking borough
  • are not 'intentionally homeless'
  • have a priority need

If you do not meet the criteria for help we can still offer advice and support you in finding somewhere to live.

Right to stay in the UK

To qualify for housing in Woking, you must have a legal right to stay in the UK. You will need to show your:

  • birth certificate
  • passport
  • Worker Registration Scheme documents

Intentionally homeless

It may be decided that you are 'intentionally homeless'. This could be because you:

  • did not pay your rent or mortgage, even if you could afford to
  • lost your home by getting into debt that you knew you couldn't pay back
  • created a situation that you knew would lead to you losing your home

If you have a connection to Woking borough

You have a connection to Woking borough if you have:

  • lived here for 6 out of the last 12 months
  • lived here for 3 out of the last 5 years
  • a permanent job in the borough
  • special reasons why you must live in the borough
  • close family who have lived here for the past 5 years, including parents or siblings

If you do not have a connection to Woking borough, we would try to refer you to an area where you do have a connection.

If there is not a connection to another area, we will only house you if we have a duty of care under the current homelessness laws.

Priority needs

You may have a priority need, if you:

  • have dependent children who live with you permanently
  • have a member of your household who is pregnant
  • have a member of your household who is vulnerable
  • are unable to stay in your home due to fire or flood
  • are fleeing from domestic abuse
  • are 16 or 17 years old
  • are between 16 and 21 years old and leaving care
  • are vulnerable as a result of being looked after, accommodated or fostered
  • are vulnerable as a result of being in the armed forces
  • are vulnerable as a result of being in prison

There may be other 'priority needs' not included in the above list.