1. Are you homeless?

The Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002 states that you are homeless if you have no accommodation available in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. This means that if you have suitable accommodation anywhere in the world which is available to you then you are NOT homeless. The Housing Act also says that you are threatened with homelessness if you are likely to become homeless within 28 days. You are also considered to be homeless if you have accommodation available to you but:

•  It is not reasonable for you to live there with the people who would normally live with you as members of your family. This includes partners, children and carers.
• You are not legally entitled to occupy it because you have had a court order requiring you to leave, or you are a tenant with no right to remain where you are.
• Your accommodation is not reasonable for you to occupy. For example, it is in poor physical condition and is beyond reasonable repair, or you cannot get it repaired for a good reason.
• You are at risk from violence in the property.
   

 2. Are you eligible for assistance?

Everyone is entitled to housing advice from their Local Council. If you need further assistance then the Council must find out whether you are eligible to receive further assistance. You will not be eligible for assistance if you are subject to immigration control, although there are exceptions. You will be subject to immigration control if you are not in one of these groups.

• A British Citizen or a Commonwealth Citizen (this will be shown on your passport) who has the right to live here.
• A Citizen of one of the following countries: Austria; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Ireland; Italy; Luxembourg; the Netherlands; Portugal; Spain; Sweden; and the United Kingdom. The exceptions to this rule, which mean you MAY be eligible for assistance although you are subject to immigration control are listed below.
• You have been granted refugee status in the United Kingdom.
• You have been given permission to enter or stay in this country (providing you have not been told you cannot use public funds).
• You have permission to enter or stay in this country with no time limit.
• You are a citizen of Turkey, Malta, Iceland, Norway or Cyprus.
• You receive an income-based job seekers allowance or are in receipt of income support. In addition, you must be 'habitually resident', in other words you must live in this country. This means that even if you are a British Citizen, if you have lived away from the country for a length of time you may not be eligible for assistance. The "habitually resident" rule does not apply to you if:
  • You have refugee status. You have exceptional permission to enter or stay in the country.
  • You are an asylum seeker who is eligible for assistance.
  • You are a "worker" for the purposes of EEC regulations.
  • You have the right to live outside the UK under an EEC council directive. If you are NOT "eligible for assistance" then you will be given advice about how you can find accommodation, and it may be possible to put you in contact with other organisations who might be able to help you. If you ARE "eligible for assistance" then further enquiries will be made as explained below.
    
    

 3. Are you in priority need?

If you are homeless and eligible for assistance, then the Council needs to determine whether you are also in priority need. This is because the Council has a duty to provide immediate temporary accommodation, if needed, for people who are homeless, eligible for assistance, and who may be in a priority need. You are considered to be in priority need if:

• You, someone you live with or someone who might reasonably be expected to live with you, is pregnant.
• You have dependant children living with you or who might be expected to live with you.
• You are vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap or physical disability or other special reason, or someone who lives with you or might be expected to live with you is vulnerable for these reasons.
• You are vulnerable in certain circumstances as a result of having been a member of Her Majesty's regular naval, military or air forces.
• You are vulnerable in certain circumstances as a result of having served a custodial sentence, having been committed for contempt of court or any other similar/relative offence, or having been remanded in custody.
• You have ceased to occupy accommodation because of violence from another person or threats of violence from another person, which is likely to be carried out.
• You are aged 21 or over, and are vulnerable as a result of having been looked after, accommodated or fostered (as defined by s.24(2)of the Children Act 1989).
• You are under 21, and were (but no longer) looked after, accommodated or fostered between the ages of 16 and 18 (except for a person who is a "relevant student" as defined by s.24(B)of the Children Act 1989).
• You are aged 16 or 17, and are not:
  • A relevant child (a child aged 16 or 17 who has been looked after by a local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 and has been looked after at some time while 16 or 17 and who is not currently being looked after) or,
  • A child in need who is owed a duty under s.20 of the Children Act 1989 (The Children Act 1989 (s.20(3)) places a duty on social services authorities to provide accommodation for a child in need aged 16 or over whose welfare is otherwise likely to be seriously prejudiced if they do not provide accommodation).
  • You are homeless as a result of flood or other disaster. If you are not "in priority need" you are entitled to advice and assistance to help you to find your own accommodation, or to prevent you from losing any accommodation you may have at the moment. If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness and in priority need then further enquiries need to be made.
     

 4. Are you intentionally Homeless?

By law, it is necessary to find out whether you are homeless through no fault of your own. If you lost your accommodation through a deliberate act which you knew would make you homeless then you can be found to be "intentionally homeless". For example, you are "intentionally homeless" if:

• You sell or give up your home when there is no need to and you do not find other suitable accommodation before you sell or give up your home.
• You do not pay your rent or mortgage repayments when you can afford to.
• You ignore housing advice which would have prevented the loss of your home.
• You are evicted because of anti-social behaviour. If you are intentionally homeless then you will be entitled to advice and assistance to help to prevent you from losing your home (if you have one). If you are already homeless then you may be entitled to accommodation for a reasonable period of time, usually 28 days, while you find accommodation of your own.
   

 5. Do you have a "local connection"?

You normally live here, or lived here in the past, of your own choice.

You are employed here (other than in the Armed Forces).

You have close family living here.

There are other special circumstances which connect you to this area.