What we can help you with

We can provide support tailored to your needs.

Depending on your situation, we'll either:  

• give you advice about how to stay in your home, if it's possible
• give you advice about finding a new home
• offer temporary accommodation whilst you find a new home

We'll talk to you about what options are realistic for your situation.  

You are much more likely to be able to rent privately than to get a social housing property. Most people will be on the housing register for years and may never be offered a council tenancy.

Help to find a new home

We'll help you find a private rented home. This is when you rent from someone who owns the home you live in, known as a 'private landlord'.  

Our support may include:  

• giving you advice about benefits you may be entitled to
• helping you find landlords who will rent their properties to benefit claimants 
• showing you how to search for a home that fits your needs
• advice on looking in areas outside London, which could make it easier to find a property
• sharing other organisations that can help
• financial support including help with a deposit  

If we can offer you temporary accommodation

If we decide you urgently need accommodation, we will provide temporary accommodation. 

This could be a temporary placement in a hostel, bed and breakfast, private rented accommodation, shelter, or other type of temporary accommodation.    

Living in temporary accommodation will not guarantee that you receive an offer for a council tenancy, and many families have lived in temporary accommodation for many years. 

If you are offered temporary accommodation, you may need to:

• move out of the borough or London
• move at short notice multiple times
• stay somewhere with limited cooking facilities
• share with other people, for example, in a hostel
• rehome your pets

We can support you in finding accommodation you can afford in the private rented sector, which is likely to be a better solution to your homelessness.