Homelessness

If homelessness can be prevented

The Council’s priority is to prevent people from becoming homeless. It is much better to be able to remain in your current home if at all possible than to lose it and face homelessness. Homelessness is a stressful and disruptive experience and

The Council’s legal duties to homeless people are limited and should only be considered as a last resort.

If you have accommodation available to you we will try to help you to keep it.  If you are given advice that  will help to prevent you from losing your current accommodation you will be expected to follow that guidance. If you do not take reasonable steps to secure your current accommodation you could be found to be Intentionally Homeless.

Seek Advice

If you believe you are at risk of losing your home, you should seek advice immediately. You can contact Housing Services or other specialist advice providers. Do not just leave or sell your home; there is often a great deal of help and assistance available to help you keep your home.

If you have been given a Notice to Quit, seek advice immediately. In most circumstances you are entitled to a full two months notice of your tenancy ending. If you have been given less than this, seek advice from Housing Services or a housing agency such as Shelter or CAB .If you leave before the ending of your notice or fail to take action against an invalid Notice to Quit, you may be making yourself intentionally homeless.

If you are experiencing a relationship breakdown, seek advice regarding your property rights. If you are experiencing violence, then contact either Housing Services or the agencies listed in the resources section.

Applying as Homeless

Housing Services will always work with you to explore different alternatives. However, The Council may have a legal duty to provide accommodation to you and your family under the Homelessness Legislation. This is temporary accommodation only and is unlikely to be in the North Dorset area.

When you apply as homeless the Council has a duty to investigate your situation. We may have to make extensive enquiries and require different types of documentation depending on your situation. The links below explain how the process works and the different stages of a homelessness application.

The following framework is a summary only. You will still need to speak to a member of the Housing Options team about your situation. All applicants’ circumstances are always evaluated on an individual basis.

Legal Duties – the 1996 Homelessness Act (as Ammended)

The Process – what happens when you apply as homeless.

Documents Required

Temporary Accommodation

Housing Benefit

Housing Application Form

Housing Benefit Calculator