Advice for people who are homeless or worried about losing their home

If you are homeless, eligible and have a priority need for accommodation, the local authority you approach will have a duty to secure accommodation for you.

You are considered to have priority need for accommodation if:

• You are homeless as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster
• You or any members of your household are pregnant or have dependent children who live with you who are 16 or under or 17 to 19 and in full-time education
• You are 16 or 17 years old
• You have been in care (i.e. a children's home or foster home) and you are under 21 or over 21 but vulnerable as a result of having been in care
• You or any members of your household are vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap, physical disability or other special reason
• You are vulnerable as a result of leaving your home due to domestic or non-domestic violence or threats of such violence or
• You are vulnerable as a result of having been in the armed forces or prison.

If you have a priority need for accommodation but are homeless because you failed to pay your rent or were asked to move out because of any other seemingly unreasonable behaviour the local authority you approach will have a duty to find somewhere for you to stay for only a limited time.