Housing Advice
The Council has a range of statutory responsibilities in relation to housing and will offer advice that the officers are competent to give, however the Citizens Advice Bureau can give independent advice as can your own solicitor.
If you are having any kind of housing problem your first step should be to contact housing services for advice on your situation and to make an appointment to see an advisor.
When you contact Housing Services it is likely you will be offered an appointment to see an Officer for an Advice Interview. This is an initial informal interview which is used to gain an overview of your situation and to discuss the housing options available. It is a good opportunity to ask any questions you have about the procedure and what help we can give. The interview will help to decide which housing route is most appropriate for you or your family. This will be either through our Housing Options route or through the statutory Homelessness duties. The information on these pages details the different ways to find accommodation or to help enable you to remain in your current accommodation.
Our first duty is to help you to keep the home you currently have. This may entail assistance with claiming benefits or debt-related financial advice. It may involve negotiation with the current owners of your property, be this parents or a landlord or referral to another organisation which can provide specialised assistance if this is needed.
If keeping your current home is not possible we will help you to find somewhere else to live. We offer assistance in finding privately rented accommodation and a rent deposit scheme which can help with the initial payments involved in taking on a tenancy.
Common problems include:
- Being asked to leave by friends or parents.
- Landlords giving a notice to quit.
- Experiencing domestic violence or other harassment.
- The breakdown of a relationship.
- Difficulties maintaining rent or mortgages.
Common solutions include:
- Negotiating with parents to allow you to stay at home, whilst you look for somewhere else.
- Negotiating with landlords to extend or retain the tenancy.
- Assistance with debt advice.
- Assistance with resolving housing benefit claim difficulties.
- Assisting you to find privately rented accommodation.
As a last resort, we may have to consider you as homeless and decide whether there is any statutory duty to provide emergency accommodation. This is offered on a night by night basis whilst conducting enquiries and it will probably not be in an area you would choose.
There will also be a cost to yourself to stay in temporary accommodation we find for you. If you are working this could be most of the cost of the bed and breakfast and can be very expensive. Even if you are on benefits you will still have to contribute to the cost of your accommodation.
Housing in North Dorset is in short supply and it is better to try to keep your current accommodation rather than become homeless. We cannot provide accommodation to everyone who has a housing problem but we will work with you to help you to find an alternative solution.
It is best to make an appointment for Housing advice; if you come to the Council’s offices without an appointment you may have to wait for a long time or there might not be a member of staff available to see you that day.
The links below detail the various services we offer and cover many typical situations people face.
 Housing Services Options - This section covers the range of services we offer to help with keeping your current home or finding further accommodation.
What can I do? - This section covers typical situations which people face such as having difficulties paying the mortgage or being asked to leave by parents or a landlord. It outlines your legal rights and the help available.
Homelessness - This section covers the legal situation of applying as homeless and how your application will be dealt with.
Resources – links to a wide range of organisations with contact details and downloads of useful information leaflets and booklets.
Housing Disrepair - The Council's Environmental Health and Licensing Team may be able to help where rented and owner occupied accomodation fails to meet minimum housing conditions.
Housing Services are located at:
North Dorset District Council
Norden
Salisbury Road
Blandford Forum
DT11 7LL
Phone: 01258 484 111
Fax: 01258 484 388
If you find yourself in housing need outside of office hours, please phone the helpline on (01202) 733 254. Please note that this number should only be used if you have nowhere at all to stay that night.
Please call Housing Advice and Allocations at North Dorset District Council on (01258) 454111 or e-mail us at housingcs@north-dorset.gov.uk for more details of this service. |
