Homelessness

You don't need to be sleeping rough or not have a roof over your head to be considered homeless.

We'll consider you to be homeless under a range of different circumstances, and may have a legal duty to help with your housing.

Such circumstances include:

• you're sleeping rough
• you're at risk of violence and/or abuse
• you're at risk of losing your home
• you cannot afford to stay where you live
• you're currently living in very temporary accommodation
• you're staying with friends or 'sofa surfing'
• you've been locked out or illegally evicted
• you're living in poor/dangerous accommodation
• you have nowhere to put your houseboat or caravan

If one or more of the above apply to you, our homelessness and prevention team may be able to help.

We'll draw up a personal housing plan so you can work with us to solve your housing problem.

Call the team on (01788) 533468.

Who we can help

1. You must have a reason to believe you might be homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days. At this point you can make a homeless application.

2. You must be eligible - normally having lived in the UK long-term and not subject to immigration control.

3. We must be satisfied you're homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days. When we're satisfied you meet the criteria to make a homeless application, we'll draw up your personal housing plan. If you're homeless and have nowhere to stay, we'll decided whether to provide you with temporary accommodation while we work together to solve your housing problem.

If your housing problem remains unresolved after a certain period of time, we'll make a final decision on your homeless application to determine what, if any, accommodation duty we have.

We'll consider personal and housing circumstances such as:

• whether you're in priority need - eg have dependent children who live with you, you're pregnant, have a disability or physical/mental health problem which means we consider you to be vulnerable
• whether you've made yourself intentionally homeless - ie made yourself homeless on purpose or were responsible for events which led you to become homeless, eg criminal or anti-social behaviour, or failing to pay rent
• whether you have a local connection to the borough (though exceptions can be made in certain cases, such as where you're escaping from domestic abuse)

If you meet the above criteria, we have a duty to offer you a suitable home in the private rented sector (eg with a private landlord or estate agency).

Due to the availability of homes in the social housing sector, we can only offer individuals and families social housing in limited cases.

You can register with us via our online housing portal.

Register with our self-referral housing options service

If you're homeless today, please call us on (01788) 533468 during office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). Out of office hours, call our emergency number on (01788) 579706.

 

Domestic violence can range from violence and abuse to controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour.

Abuse can be:

• physical
• psychological
• sexual
• financial
• emotional

If you're unsafe in your home and want to move out, call our homelessness and prevention team on (01788) 533468 for advice on finding somewhere to live.

If you think you're in immediate danger, call the police on 999.

For confidential support and advice about domestic abuse, call Warwickshire Against Domestic Abuse's talk2someone freephone helpline on 0800 4081552.

What we can do 

If you need help, you can contact us to make a homeless application. If necessary, we'll try and find you somewhere to live in the short term.

We'll never turn you away. If we cannot help you, we'll put you in touch with organisations which may be able to help.

Other help on offer

• If you're experiencing domestic violence, Refuge's Domestic Violence Service can support you and your children to stay safe. You can call the 24 hour national domestic violence helpline on 0800 2000 247
• RoSA offers counselling and support for survivors of rape, sexual violence or sexual abuse. You can call RoSA's confidential helpline on (01788) 551151
• Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC) runs support and counselling services for survivors of rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse. You can call the CRASAC helpline on 024 7627 7777
• Domestic Violence Assist, a national charity, can help arrange Non-Molestation Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders and Occupation Orders on your behalf. You can call the charity on freephone 0800 1958699
• The National Stalking Helpline, run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, can offer help and advice on what to do if you're being stalked or harassed. You can call the helpline on 0808 802 0300
• Men's Advice Line offers advice and support for men experiencing domestic violence or abuse. You can call the helpline on 0808 801 0327
• Blue Sky Centre, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre based at Nuneaton's George Eliot Hospital, offers a range of support services. You can call the centre's confidential line on (01926) 507805
• The Government's Forced Marriage Unit has a public helpline which offers advice to anyone with concerns about forced marriage. You can call he helpline on 0207 0080151
• Karma Nirvana, a national charity, offers support and advice to victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. You can call the charity's helpline on 0800 5999 247, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

If you're 18 to 21-years-old and spent at least one night in care when you were 16 or 17-years-old, our homlessness and prevention team can help you find somewhere to live.

You can call the team on (01788) 533468.

With your consent, your personal adviser can make a referral for you to receive housing help and advice under the duty to refer.

View information about the duty to refer

Other help on offer

• St Basils works with young people aged 16 to 25-year-old who find themselves homeless or at risk of homelessness. Text 'NEED ST BASILS' for free from a mobile phone so a member of the St Basils team can call you
• Doorway, a Warwickshire-based charity, works with homeless young people to offer advice, support and accommodation. You can call Doorway on 024 7634 5583
• P3, a charity and social enterprise, operates a floating support service in Warwickshire for over 25-year-olds who need support to manage and maintain accommodation. P3 runs drop-in sessions at its offices in The Robbins Building, Henry Street, Rugby, CV21 2QA. The sessions take place from 10am to 2pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. You can call P3 on (01788) 222827
• Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA runs youth projects and provides housing for young people. You can call Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA on 024 7699 5216 or email housing@ymca-cw.org.uk

If you're leaving the armed forces, or have served in the forces, you may be entitled to extra support if you become homeless.

We have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant for Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire, a commitment to treat members and former members of the armed forces with fairness and respect, and to ensure armed forces members, both past and present, face no disadvantages when trying to access public services.

When you contact our homelessness and prevention team, we'll first decide whether you qualify for help under our general policy for individuals considered to be in priority need (for example, you have dependent children).

We'll also consider whether you're vulnerable and whether an issue, such as disability, mental health problems or addiction, impacts on your ability to secure housing for yourself.

Call the homelessness and prevention team on (01788) 533468.

Extra homelessness rules for the armed forces

When considering whether you're vulnerable and in priority need, you can support your case by showing your service with the armed forces has contributed to your vulnerability.

We'll consider:

• how long you served with the armed forces and your role
• if you spent time in a military hospital
• if you were discharged from service on medical grounds (and have a Medical History Release Form)
• if you have obtained and maintained accommodation since leaving the forces
• the length of time you have left the service

Ask for help early

If you think you'll be homeless on leaving the armed forces, contact our Community Advice and Support team.

If you can provide a letter of discharge or other evidence which confirms the date of your discharge, we should accept your date of discharge as the date you become homeless. 

If you fail to contact us for help before your discharge, you may need to stay in your accommodation and wait for Defence Estates to evict you.

Defence Estates have to give you Notice to Vacate. A copy of the notice can support your homeless application.

Other help on offer

A number of organisatons offer housing advice and support for veterans:

• The Shelter website has a range of information on housing for armed forces veterans, with links to a number of supporting organisations, including the Royal British Legion, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) and Veterans Aid.

If you're concerned about being homeless on release from prison, the prison or probation service, with your consent, can make a referral for you to receive housing help and advice under the duty to refer.

View information about the duty to refer

Other help on offer

• Futures Unlocked supports ex-offenders in leading crime-free lives. The organisation has offices at 28 Regent Street, Rugby, CV21 2PS. You can call Futures Unlocked on (01788) 547015 or email admin@futuresunlocked.org
• CGL - Change, Grow, Live - offers recovery-focused drug and alcohol services. CGL has offices at 35-37 Albert Street, Rugby, CV21 2SG. You can also call (01788) 353513 or email warwickshire.info@cgl.org.uk 

If you have a mental illness or impairment and face losing your home, we may be able to help.

The moment you fear you're at risk of losing your home, call our housing advice and benefits team on (01788) 533468. The sooner we speak to you, the more time we have to stop you losing your home or find you somewhere else to live when you do.

We may decide the vulnerability caused by your mental illness or impairment qualifies you as priority need for accommodation. When considering your case, we'll collect information from health professionals to help make our decision.

Other help on offer

If you find yourself homeless and suffer with mental health difficulties, the following orgnisations can offer advice and support:

• ReThink offers expert, accredited advice and information on a wide range of issues, from treatment to employment rights
• Mind offers support and confidential help on a range of mental health issues
• Turning Point provides individual support for a range of mental health issues, learning disabilties, and drug or alcohol issues
• Rugby Wellbeing Hub, a service run by Coventry and Warwickshire Mind, runs drop-in sessions at 28 Cromwell Road, Rugby, CV22 5LY every Tuesday, from 1pm to 4pm, and every Saturday, from 10am to 1pm
• Mental Health Matters has a Coventry and Warwickshire helpline offering free emotional support, 24/7. Call 0800 616171
• The Samaritans offers a safe place for you to talk, in your own way, whenever you like. You can can The Samaritans on 116 123 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Together, a national charity, helps individuals suffering from mental illness or impairment live independent lives and work towards improved mental wellbeing

If you think you could be homeless after being discharged from hospital, you should raise your concerns with the hospital nursing staff at the first opportunity.

The hospital discharge team can offer you advice and, with your consent, can make a referral under the duty to refer.

View information about the duty to refer

Home adaptations

If you have a home but require adaptations to carry on living there, you'll be referred to our Home Environment Assessment and Response Team (HEART).

HEART offers advice and assistance to deliver disabled adaptations and home improvements to support you in staying in your home. A caseworker can assess your needs and provide tailored advice on home aids and adaptations.

Depending on your needs, HEART can arrange:

• small adaptations or equipment such as bath boards, stair rails and small ramps
• large adaptations such as stair lifts, level access showers and room conversions

HEART also may be able to arrange financial support for adaptations through our Disabled Facilities Grant.

If your home cannot be adapted, HEART can offer advice and support to identify suitable alternatives. HEART can also explore other options, such as supported or extra care housing.

Visit the HEART website on Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough's Council website

You can call HEART on 024 7637 6294 or email HEARTnorth@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk 

Other help on offer

• Age UK, based in Rugby at the Claremont Centre in Clifton Road, offers a range of information and advice for older people. You can call the centre on (01788) 552540
• ConnectWELL, funded by the NHS and delivered by Warwickshire CAVA, offers advice, support and activities to improve health and wellbeing. You can call ConnectWELL on (01788) 539572
• Housing & Care 21 offers retirement and extra care housing for older people. You can call Housing & Care 21 on 0303 123 1622
• Housing Care, a charity-run website, offers free advice and information on nursing homes, residential care homes, sheltered housing, extra care housing and retirement villages.

Advice on what to do when faced with eviction depends on the type of tenancy you have - the majority of tenants have an assured shorthold tenancy, but you can check your type of tenancy or licence on Shelter's website.

If you receive a notice of eviction from your landlord, call our homelessness and prevention team straight away on (01788) 533468..

Notice of Eviction

A landlord can issue a section 21 notice or a section 8 notice to end a private tenancy but must follow certain rules in order for for the notice to be valid. Invalid notices can be challenged in court.

A landlord does not need to give a reason to end your tenancy with a section 21 notice. With a section 8 notice, a landlord must have a legal reason to end your tenancy.

We may be able to negotiate with your landlord on your behalf in order to stop the eviction.

Illegal eviction and harrassment 

It's a criminal offence for a landlord to evict a tenant without following the correct legal procedure.

Illegal eviction can include:

• forcing you to leave through threats or harrassment
• physically throwing you out
• stopping you from entering certain parts of your home
• changing the locks while you're out

Harrassment can take the form of:

• making threats in order to persuade you to leave
• cutting off a service, such as water or electricity
• preventing access to shared kitchens or bathrooms
• entering a tenant's room without permission

Need more advice?

Shelter has a range of advice and information regarding your legal rights as a tenant. You can visit Shelter's website or call the helpline on 0808 800 4444.

Rugby Citizens Advice offers free, confidential and impartial advice on a wide range of issues, including your housing rights. For more information, visit the Rugby Citizens Advice website.

Due to a severe shortage of council and social housing accommodation, the quickest solution to your housing problem can often be finding private rented accommodation.

You can search for private rented accommodation via estate agents, letting agents and private landlords, and we can offer you advice and support.

When looking for a home, it's important to consider the following:

• can you afford the rent and household bills? If you're unsure, speak to your case officer
• can you sign a minimum six-month tenancy agreement to rent the property?
• does the property have the correct number of bedrooms for your family, taking into consideration the guidelines on children sharing?

How we can help

If you've found a suitable property and the estate agency, letting agency or private landlord considers you a suitable tenant, bring the property details to your case officer (when applicable) so we can make sure it's the right property for you.

We'll carry out an income and expenditure assessment with you to make sure you can afford to live in the property. DO NOT sign a tenancy agreement or pay any fees until you have discussed the property's suitability with your case officer (where applicable).

If you're homeless or at risk of becoming homeless within the next 56 days, we may be able to offer you financial support to help you find suitable private rented accommodation.

Benefits

You can check online what benefits you're eligible to claim.

Visit the Turn2Us online benefit calculator

If you're entitled to benefits to help pay your rent, make sure you take into account the Local Housing Allowance - the maximum allowance paid to claimants to pay rent.

The allowance rarely covers all of your rent in the private accommodation, so you'll need to pay the difference between the Local Housing Allowance and your monthly rent.

If you're working, it may affect your entitlement to benefits.

Depending on your circumstances, we may be able to offer you financial support.

Deposit

When you pay your landlord a deposit for your tenancy in private rented accommodation, your landlord has a legal duty to protect your deposit of you have an assured shorthold tenancy.

You can check the type of tenancy you have on Shelter's website.

Your estate agent, letting agent or landlord should tell you which scheme your deposit has been protected by.

For more information on deposit protection schemes, visit Shelter's website.

Need more help?

If you need to discuss your circumstances with us in more detail, please register with us via our online housing portal.

Register with our self-referral housing options service

Public bodies specified in the Homelessness Reduction Act have a duty to refer consenting individuals believed to be homeless or at risk of homelessness within 56 days to our housing advice and benefits team.

The duty to refer applies to the following public bodies:

• social services
• NHS services
• Job Centre Plus
• prisons
• probation services (including community rehabilitation companies)
• youth offending teams
• youth offender institutions
• secure colleges and training centres
• The Secretary of State for Defence (in relation to members of the armed forces)

By referring individuals to us, public bodies can support our work to prevent and relieve homelessness.

Please note, organisations not subject to the duty to refer can still make referrals to us.

How to refer

Before making a referral, you must:

• have the consent of the individual(s) you intend to refer
• identify the housing authority in England the individual(s) wish to be referred to
• have the consent of the individual(s) for the housing authority to make contact following the referral

You can make a referral through ALERT.

ALERT supports partnership working by providing a secure and easy to use platform for making referrals and notifications, including the 213B duty placed on specified public bodies.

Make a referral through ALERT

Referrals from the Department for Work and Pensions, including Job Centre Plus, can be made by completing our online form.

For cases already homeless or who have nowhere to stay tonight, call us on (01788) 533468 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or, out of office hours, on (01788) 579706.

Our housing advice and benefits team contacts all referrals within five days and, if necessary, supports referrals to make a homeless application.

If you're sleeping rough or have nowhere to stay tonight, call our homelessness and prevention team on (01788) 533468.

Out of office hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday), call our emergency number on (01788) 579706.

During the winter months, we operate the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, which comes into effect when weather forecasts predict the temperature to drop to zero degrees or below for three consecutive nights.

If you're homeless or threatened with homelessness within the next 56 days and need housing help and advice, you need to register with us via our online housing portal.

Register with our self-referral housing options service