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If you’ve asked your council for housing help, you might be wondering what happens now.
Sometimes the process can feel unclear, especially if you’re already dealing with stress or uncertainty about your housing situation.
The good news is that there is a clear process the council should follow, which is what we break down in this guide. We’ll explain what usually happens next, what the council will look at and what support you might receive.
If you’re ever unsure, it’s worth asking your local council about the process following a housing application, as procedures can vary between areas. Find your local council here.
In short, the council will assess your situation and decide what legal duty they owe you. This may lead to you being offered temporary accommodation, a personalised housing plan or support to find a long-term solution.
This means that once you’ve asked the council for housing help, they will usually arrange an initial assessment. This might happen in person, over the phone or online.
They will ask questions about your situation, including:
They may also ask for documents, such as ID, proof of address or eviction notices.
After the initial contact, the council will look at a few key things to decide how they can help you. This includes:
They will check if you are eligible for housing assistance. This often depends on your immigration status and whether you normally live in the UK.
You don’t have to be sleeping rough to get help. You may still qualify if you are at risk of losing your home within 56 days or if it is not safe for you to stay where you are.
The council will look at whether you have additional needs, for example if you:
They may also check if you have a connection to the local area, such as living or working there.
After assessing your situation, the council must decide what duty they owe you. This means what legal responsibility they have to support you.
If you are at risk of becoming homeless, the council should help you stay in your current home if possible.
This could include:
If you are already homeless, the council must help you find somewhere to stay.
This support usually lasts up to 56 days.
If the council decides you meet certain criteria or have a priority need, they may have a longer-term duty to help secure housing for you.
You may be offered temporary accommodation while the council looks into your situation.
This is more likely if:
Temporary accommodation could include:
It might not be in your preferred area, but it should be suitable for your needs.
If the council accepts a duty to help you, they will create a personalised housing plan. This plan sets out what the council will do and what steps you need to take moving forward.
For example, you might be asked to search for private rented housing, attend appointments or provide documents. It’s important to follow the plan as much as you can, as this can affect the support you receive.
The length of the process entirely depends on your situation. Some support starts straight away, especially if you are at immediate risk. Other parts of the process, like finding long-term housing, can take longer.
However long the process takes, you should receive decisions from the council in writing.
While the council must always assess your situation if you ask for help, they may decide that you are not eligible or that they don’t owe you a full housing duty.
If this happens, you still have the right to ask for a review of the decision or to get advice and support from other organisations, such as P3 Charity.
If you’re finding the process difficult, you don’t have to go through it alone.
At P3, we support people who are facing housing challenges, including homelessness or the risk of losing their home.
We can help you:
To find out more about our housing support services or to get in touch with your local P3 service, click the button below.
