Homelessness
HOMELESSNESS AND YOUR RIGHTS
If you are homeless or are threatened with homelessness the Council may have a duty to provide help under the Housing Act 1996. This information is only intended to be a guide to the law If you have any questions about the following information please do not hesitate to contact the Housing Advisory Services team on 08458 496170 or E-mail sue.murray@southbeds.gov.uk They will be willing to assist you with any concerns that you may have.
Factsheets (PDF 90KB) on Homelessness for further information
THREATENED WITH HOMELESSNESS
The law says you are homeless if: -
- You have nowhere to live
- Your landlord or mortgage lender has taken you to court and the court has said you must leave
- You have been living with friends or relatives and they have asked you to leave
- You cannot return to your home because of violence or threats of violence from someone you are associated with
- Your home is unfit for habitation owing to its condition or lack of services (i.e. no heating, hot water, etc.)
A person is said to be "threatened with homelessness" if he or she is likely to become homeless within 28 days.
Accommodation for Homeless Applicants (PDF 282KB)
Are you ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE?
This normally applies to those applicants who are subject to immigration control, under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.
What isPRIORITY NEED?
You are said to be in a priority need category if: -
- You have dependent children who normally live with you
- You or someone you normally live with is pregnant
- You have become homeless as a result of fire, flood or other disaster
- You or someone you live with is disabled, suffering from a mental illness, or is vulnerable for some other special reason (for example, old age)
It will help if your doctor, social worker, health visitor etc. supports your claim. Please bring any medical evidence you have with you to the interview.
If the Council is satisfied that you are eligible for assistance, homeless and in priority need we will need to check two other facts:
- That you are not homeless intentionally.
- Whether or not you have a local connection with South Beds District Council or any other authority.
While we are investigating these two facts, we may provide emergency accommodation, if this is necessary.
What is INTENTIONALLY HOMELESS?
If it is discovered that you deliberately did, or failed to do, something which has caused you to lose your home (i.e. not paid the rent or mortgage although you had the income to make those payments) you may be regarded as having made yourself intentionally homeless.
If the Council discovers that you have colluded with your landlord or a member of your family or friends to get your current accommodation taken away from you, so that you can apply for housing under the Homelessness Legislation, you may be regarded as intentionally homeless.
You may also be regarded as intentionally homeless if it is known that accommodation was available for you and you received assistance to secure it, but deliberately failed to do so.
If the Council decides that you are intentionally homeless we may defer your accommodation for a short period only, to allow you some time to find your own accommodation elsewhere.
Decision notice and how to appeal
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY
We published our Homelessness Strategy 2003-2006 in July 2003. It is a living document, which will be kept under review and updated throughout the three-year period. Homelessness Strategy (PDF 1.8MB)
To view the above document you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download your free copy, go to Adobe website
Useful links
- Homelesspages.org.uk - Information for the homeless.
- www.shelternet.co.uk - Housing advice from Shelter, including advice on homelessness.
Contact
If you require further assistance, please contact:
Housing Advisory Services Team,
South Bedfordshire District Council,
The District Offices,
High Street North,
Dunstable LU6 1LF
Telephone: 0845 8496170
Email:sue.murray@southbeds.gov.uk
