Homelessness
What Help will I be
Entitled to?
If you are:
- not homeless or threatened with homelessness;
or
- not eligible for assistance;
or
- not in priority need;
then the Council has a duty to provide you with appropriate
housing advice and assistance, which everyone is entitled to.
If you are:
- homeless or threatened with homelessness;
and
- eligible for assistance; and
- in priority need; and
- you did not make yourself homeless intentionally;
then the Council has a duty to provide you with advice and
assistance to help you to find other accommodation. If there is no
other suitable accommodation available for you, the Council has a
duty to ensure that suitable accommodation is available.
The Council may discharge their housing functions under Part VII
of the Housing Act 1996 (s.206(1)) only by:
- Securing that suitable accommodation provided for the applicant
by the Council is available.
- Securing that suitable accommodation can be obtained for the
applicant from some other person (e.g. an offer of permanent
accommodation from a Registered Social Landlord as a result of a
nomination from the Housing Register).
- Securing a flat in a Hostel in the District.
- Nominating to a private sector leased property managed by a
Housing Association.
The Council will no longer be subject to the duty under Part VII
of the Housing Act 1996 (s.193(5)) if the applicant:
- Refuses an offer of accommodation, having been informed of the
possible consequences and
- The Council are satisfied that this is a suitable offer and
have notified the applicant that the duty has been discharged.
The Council will no longer be subject to the duty under Part VII
of the Housing Act 1996 (s.193(6)) if the applicant:
- Ceases to be eligible for assistance
- Becomes homeless intentionally from accommodation that was made
available by the Council for the applicant’s occupation
- Accepts an offer of accommodation under Part VI (allocation of
housing) or,
- Voluntarily ceases occupation of the accommodation that was
made available for the applicants occupation as their
only/principal home.
The Council will no longer be subject to the duty under Part VII
of the Housing Act 1996 (s.193)(7)) if:
- The applicant has been informed of the possible consequences of
refusing an offer of accommodation under Part VI and refuses an
offer.
- The Council are satisfied that the accommodation was suitable
for the applicant and that it would be reasonable for the applicant
to accept the offer.
- The Council notify the applicant of their decision within 21
days of the date of the applicants refusal.
If this applies to you but you have not lost your home yet (in
other words you are threatened with homelessness) then the Council
will give you all the advice and assistance you need to find other
accommodation.
If you are:
- homeless or threatened with homelessness;
and
- eligible for assistance; and
- in priority need;
- but you made yourself homeless intentionally
;
If you have not yet lost your home (in other words you are
threatened with homelessness) then the Council will give you advice
and assistance to prevent you from losing your home.
If you have already lost your home and there is nowhere else you
can stay, then the Council may provide you with up to 28
days emergency accommodation, to enable you to find somewhere
to live. This is likely to be in a Bed and Breakfast establishment
which may be located outside the District.
If the Council has reason to believe that you may be
intentionally homeless or not eligible for assistance and your
household includes a dependant child, the Council can, where
consent is given, contact the social services authority on behalf
of your family to seek assistance under Part 3 of the Children Act
1989 for a child in need.
What kind of
help will this be?
Everyone is eligible for advice and
assistance.
You can get advice and assistance relating to any aspect of
housing. For example:
- How to prevent you from losing your accommodation.
- Your rights as a tenant or owner occupier.
- How to find your own accommodation.
- Other organisations who may be able to help you.
- Where to get advice about money or legal matters.
- Please ask if you need assistance to complete housing
forms.
You should be aware that you will not be allocated
social housing as a direct result of your homelessness.
Council and Housing Association accommodation in this District is
allocated to households on Dover District Council’s Housing
Register. You can get an application form for the Register from our
forms page or any of the Dover District Council's Area Offices.
Contact Housing
Tel: 01304 821199
Email housing.options@dover.gov.uk
