Housing Advice
When should I contact the Council for housing advice?
You should seek housing advice as soon as you have an issue that threatens your ability to remain in your accommodation in the long term. Always get housing advice before you leave a tenancy if you haven't got suitable long-term accommodation to move to.
If you think that you are at risk of becoming homelessness or threatened with homelessness within 56 days, or you are already homeless additional advice can be found on our Homeless or threatened with homelessness page.
What type of housing issues can I get advice on?
A Housing Options Officer will assist you with a wide range of housing issues including, (but not limited to):
- advice and assistance on rent or mortgage arrears
- finding accommodation in the private rented sector
- referrals to providers of hostel accommodation
- applying for social housing through the council's housing register
- low cost home ownership
- notice from you landlord
- parental exclusion
- fleeing domestic abuse
- preventing homelessness
What sort of help can the Council offer?
A Housing Options Officer will discuss the circumstances that have resulted in your housing issues and look at the options for resolving them. This may involve:
- helping you to negotiate an arrangement with your landlord for repaying rent arrears
- making sure that you are receiving all the benefits that you are entitled to
- arranging for an interest free loan to enable to you take up a tenancy in the private rented sector
- making a referral to hostel or supported accommodation providers
- checking that the notice to quit from your landlord is legal;
- advising you on your housing rights and responsibilities
- sign-posting or referring you to other agencies for help and/or support
How do I get housing advice?
To access help or advice please complete our online Housing Advice Request form which is accessed through our Housing Assistance Referral Portal.
Following completion of the form a member of the Housing team will make contact within five working days to discuss your housing situation.
Independent advice and debt agencies
If you are facing financial difficulties there are many local, regional and national organisations that offer free and independent advice. We also have a list of independent advice and debt agencies.
