At risk of homelessness: how we can help

You can find out how to get help and what happens when you contact us on our homelessness support page.

There are lots of different reasons why people get into housing difficulty. Below we've explained how we might be able to help in different situations, with links to more detailed information or advice.
 

Financial issues

If you are struggling with your finances and cannot make your household payments, then you can contact us for advice. We can put you in touch with specialist money advisors who can offer you independent support and advice.
 

Help with your mortgage

If you own your own home and you are having difficulty paying your mortgage, you must contact your lender and discuss the situation.

If you are thinking of selling or abandoning your home you must speak to your lender. You should also speak to the Housing Options Service before, as it may affect any decision we make if you need to apply as homeless.

You can find further guidance on our mortgage advice page.

Difficulties with the people you live with

If you're having issues with the people you live with, whether it's family or friends, leaving home can seem like the easiest option. However, it is not always the best answer and can sometimes even lead to homelessness.

Issues may occur in many situations, for example, parents may feel they can no longer accommodate a grown-up child because of continuing family arguments, or friends may no longer have room to allow someone to stay with them.

In some cases, where you are at risk of becoming homeless, we may want to visit you in your home to see if we can help you and the people you live with resolve issues and prevent you from becoming homeless.
 

Mediation

Sometimes, a professional mediator may be invited as a 'third party' to give confidential, neutral and impartial advice to those involved.

Mediation helps people talk together, listen to each other, and understand each other's points of view. It is especially helpful if communication between the people involved in a dispute or difficulty has become a problem. Mediation needs all the people involved to be willing to sit down together a take part in the process.

Mediation is not appropriate where there is violence or the threat of violence involved or where there is domestic or other abuse. If you are being abused by, or are frightened of, someone you live with, you must tell us this so that we can help you in an appropriate way. We will always keep this information confidential.

Relationship breakdown

The end of a relationship is a difficult and emotional time, and it can be made worse if one person is facing homelessness because of the breakdown. We can give you advice and practical help on what to do next. We may be able to speak to your partner and arrange for you to stay in your home whilst we help you to look for a new home. We can also offer mediation if communication breakdown has meant that arranging options with your partner has become difficult.

If your relationship has ended because of abuse, violence or the threat of violence, mediation or staying at home in the short-term is not appropriate. If you are experiencing violence or abuse, please visit our domestic abuse support page or our domestic abuse housing advice page.

Neighbour nuisance or harassment

If you are experiencing violence, the threat of violence or any other hate crime, contact the police.

Not all disagreements with your neighbours need to result in you or them having to move house.

Finding common ground and reaching compromises can often be the solution to help resolve these matters. If you live in social housing, your landlord may be able to talk to both parties and offer advice and assistance with neighbour problems. You can also contact the housing options team to discuss your housing options.