How to apply to the council as homeless, step by step

Direct answer

If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days, your local council has a duty to help you under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. The application is free, can be made the same day, and the council must record it and issue a written decision. For focused help, call Shelter on 0808 800 4444.

When you can apply

You can apply if any of these is true:

• You have nowhere you can lawfully occupy.
• You have a home but it would not be reasonable for you to stay there (overcrowding, abuse, severe disrepair).
• You are about to be evicted within 56 days.
• You are fleeing violence or threats of violence.
• You are about to leave an institution (prison, hospital, care) and have nowhere to go.
• A friend or family member has asked you to leave with limited notice.

You do not have to be on the street.

Find the right council

The council that owes you the duty is usually the one where you have a local connection. Most often this is:

• The borough or district where you have been normally resident for at least 6 of the last 12 months, or 3 of the last 5 years.
• Where you have family who have been there for 5 years or more.
• Where you have employment.

If you have no local connection to any council, you can still apply, the council you approach assesses you and then may refer you.

Find your council at gov.uk/find-local-council.

Where to go

Go to the council's housing options office or homelessness team. The address is on the council website. Most councils accept walk-in applications on weekdays, some take phone or online applications too.

What to bring

Take whatever you have. Missing documents do not stop the application, they only slow the assessment:

• Photo ID (passport, driving licence, Home Office documents).
• Birth certificates for children.
• Proof of pregnancy if relevant (MAT B1 form).
• Your tenancy agreement (current or last one).
• Any eviction notice (Section 21, Section 8, court papers).
• Bank statements and bills showing where you have been living.
• A letter from your doctor if you have a health condition or disability.
• Anything that proves vulnerability (mental health, fleeing abuse, leaving care, leaving prison).

What the council must do

After you apply:

1. Take the application. They cannot refuse to record it.
2. Make a decision on interim accommodation. If they have reason to believe you may be homeless, eligible, and in priority need, they must offer somewhere to stay that night.
3. Carry out an assessment. They look at your circumstances, why you are homeless, and whether you are eligible (immigration status), in priority need, and not intentionally homeless.
4. Produce a personal housing plan (PHP) with steps you and the council will take.
5. Decide your case and send you a Section 184 written decision, usually within 56 days.

If you do not get the PHP or the decision in writing, ask for it.

Priority need

You are in priority need if any of these is true:

• You have dependent children living with you.
• You are pregnant.
• You are vulnerable because of age, disability, mental health, leaving care, leaving prison, fleeing violence.
• You are homeless because of emergency like a fire or flood.
• You are 16 or 17 (some categories).

If the decision is wrong

You can ask for a Section 202 review within 21 days of getting the Section 184 letter. See challenging a Section 184 homeless decision.

Get focused help

This is not SFT's main work. For the application itself, the right places to call:

• Shelter 0808 800 4444
• Citizens Advice 0808 223 1133
• A Law Centre near you, see lawcentres.org.uk
• Emergency legal aid via Civil Legal Advice 0345 345 4 345

If your last home was let into disrepair and that caused the homelessness, we can still help with the disrepair claim alongside. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.

Free call: 0800 030 4669 | Start your claim

Sources

• Housing Act 1996, Part 7 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (legislation.gov.uk)