Homeless or at risk of becoming homeless?

Homeless or at risk of becoming homeless?
What happens after you tell us you are homeless

What happens after you tell us you are homeless

When you tell us you're homeless or worried about becoming homeless within the next 8 weeks (56 days) we'll discuss your situation and needs with you.

We may be able to give some advice straight away, or we'll arrange for you to come and see us for an assessment of your situation.

What happens at your assessment

During your housing assessment interview, we will discuss your housing situation and needs. We will ask for information about you, your household, and your housing situation.

The assessment gives us the opportunity to provide you with advice about your rights and explore your housing options.

The interview is a chance for you to ask questions and normally takes between 60 and 90 minutes. The information we gather at the interview will help us create a personal housing plan to resolve your housing situation.

Creating a Personal Housing Plan (PHP)

A PHP is an agreement between you and the Council outlining the actions we will take to help you with your housing and the steps you will take to help yourself.

You are expected to complete your actions and may be asked to provide proof that you have done so. For example, you may be asked to show you are contacting landlords and estate agents, or that you have engaged with support services. If you do not complete your actions we may close your application.

Prepare for your housing appointment with us

If we need to speak with you by phone, please make sure your phone is charged and you are in a quiet, private area to discuss your needs.

We will be able to help you more quickly if you have relevant paperwork with you.

Documents we may ask you for

Document Category	Type of documents
Proof of Identity	This can be: Full birth certificate Passport Document confirming your National Insurance Number Photo driving licence Biometric residence card Proof of settled immigration status
Income Details	Any recent statements of all bank and building accounts including current and any savings accounts, held by you and your household If you are employed: Payslips for the last five weeks or two months depending on whether you are paid weekly or monthly If you are on benefits: Proof of all benefits you receive
Your most recent Tenancy Details	This will include: the tenancy agreement that you were given at the start of your tenancy any other contract that you were given later any notice given by your landlord to leave your home If you don’t have a written tenancy agreement: a rent book or letter from your landlord confirming the tenancy

Document Category

Type of documents

Proof of Identity

This can be:

Full birth certificate
Passport
Document confirming your National Insurance Number
Photo driving licence
Biometric residence card
Proof of settled immigration status

Income Details

Any recent statements of all bank and building accounts including current and any savings accounts, held by you and your household

If you are employed:

Payslips for the last five weeks or two months depending on whether you are paid weekly or monthly

If you are on benefits:

Proof of all benefits you receive

Your most recent Tenancy Details

This will include:

the tenancy agreement that you were given at the start of your tenancy
any other contract that you were given later
any notice given by your landlord to leave your home
If you don’t have a written tenancy agreement:
a rent book or letter from your landlord confirming the tenancy

Additional documents

In specific circumstances, you will need to bring additional documents. These specific circumstances and documents needed are listed in the table below:

Circumstance	Type of document
If you have a child or are expecting a child	a full birth certificate for any child who is to be included in your application for housing any divorce or separation papers that show arrangements concerning children a maternity certificate or hospital notes confirming your pregnancy, showing your estimated due date proof of Child Benefit
If you are selling or have sold your home	We will need to see confirmation from your solicitor. This should include: the value of the property the amount of mortgage still outstanding the amount of capital you are likely to receive when the property is sold
If there is legal action being taken to repossess your home	the court summons for possession with details of the application for possession any court order for possession any bailiff's warrant for possession

Circumstance

Type of document

If you have a child or are expecting a child

a full birth certificate for any child who is to be included in your application for housing
any divorce or separation papers that show arrangements concerning children
a maternity certificate or hospital notes confirming your pregnancy, showing your estimated due date
proof of Child Benefit

If you are selling or have sold your home

We will need to see confirmation from your solicitor. This should include:

the value of the property
the amount of mortgage still outstanding
the amount of capital you are likely to receive when the property is sold

If there is legal action being taken to repossess your home

the court summons for possession with details of the application for possession
any court order for possession
any bailiff's warrant for possession

What’s next?

After we assess your housing needs, we will provide you with tailored advice and support. This may be in the form of:

Helping you apply for privately rented homes which fit your needs
Checking if there are any schemes which could help you stay in your tenancy for longer e.g. Landlord Incentive Scheme
In some circumstances, we may be able to offer you Temporary Accommodation (however, we do not have a duty to provide temporary accommodation to everyone who asks for help)

Contacting your case officer

You will now have a dedicated case officer. Your case officer will attempt to respond to any enquiries within ten working days. However, we are dealing with high levels of demand, and we may not be able to reply as promptly as we would like to.

We ask that you are patient. However, if your situation changes, you should call us immediately on 0300 126 7000.