Advice if you’re worried you’re about to become homeless

Contact us as soon as possible if you are asked to leave. Do not wait until you are homeless to approach the Benefits and Homeless Prevention service for help. We can help you to find somewhere to move to and give you advice around benefits and affordability.

We recommend asking your family and friends to let you stay longer until you can find somewhere to live. Family and friends are often willing to let you stay for some time as long as they know that you are looking for somewhere to move to.

When you contact us we will speak to the person asking you to leave to better understand the situation. We might visit their property or call them. We’ll explore options such as mediation and try to negotiate with them to let you stay longer.

We will not offer you social housing if you are homeless. Homeless people who qualify to join Hackney’s housing register can bid for social housing but face estimated waiting times of 9-12 years to secure a two, three or four bedroom property.

We will help you to consider options in London and beyond to help you to find somewhere affordable and suitable to rent privately. 

Contact us: apply for homeless help.

If you’re under 18, contact Hackney’s Children and Families Service – they have the main responsibility for your housing and support.

If you share accommodation with your landlord such as a bathroom or kitchen then you have less rights than if you rented separately. 

This is likely to be the case if you rent a room from your landlord as a lodger or as a sub-tenant. 

If you have a fixed term agreement with your landlord then you can generally stay in the property until the end of the agreement as long as you stick to the terms of the agreement.

If you don’t have a fixed term agreement or other written agreement then your landlord can generally ask you to leave by giving you reasonable notice. The amount of time that is considered reasonable can be short and might for example be a week if you pay your rent weekly. This notice does not need to be in writing and can be verbal.

If you don’t move out at the end of the notice period then your landlord can evict you peacefully such as by changing the locks when you are out. If your landlord uses force or the threat of violence to get you out of their property though this is illegal eviction and is a criminal offence. If your landlord tries to evict you illegally you should contact 999.

If you share accommodation with your landlord and they’ve asked you to leave we recommend you try to find alternative accommodation before your notice period ends. See Get a privately rented home.

Learn more by visiting Citizens Advice – What rights do lodgers have?

We can help if you’re at risk of homelessness. Contact us: apply for homeless help.

If you rent privately you are likely to have an assured shorthold tenancy. You can check this by looking at your tenancy agreement.

If you hold an assured shorthold tenancy then your landlord must give you written notice that they want you to leave. 

If you are within the fixed term of your tenancy then the notice must say why the landlord is asking you to leave the property. The reasons that the landlord gives are known as the grounds for eviction. If you disagree with the grounds upon which the landlord is asking you to leave the property then you can challenge the eviction. If you challenge the eviction you may be able to stop the eviction and stay in the property.

If you are outside of the fixed term of your tenancy and have a periodic tenancy then your landlord must give you written notice to leave the property but does not need to tell you why they are asking you to leave. 

This type of notice is often called a section 21 notice or a section 8 notice.

If you have received a notice from your landlord asking you to leave then you may be at risk of homelessness.  

We can help if you’re at risk of homelessness. Contact us: apply for homeless help.

If you are renting from a Housing Association you will likely have an assured tenancy and your landlord will usually only ask you to leave if there are issues with the tenancy, for example if you have built up rent arrears. You can check the type of tenancy that you have by looking at your tenancy agreement.

The notice that you receive from your landlord will usually state the reason that they are asking you to leave the property. This notice is called a Notice of Seeking Possession. 

You do not need to leave your property on the date given on the Notice of Seeking Possession. If the landlord wants to evict you they must take you to court and only the court can decide to evict you. You are often able to challenge the eviction and remain in your home. You should contact us for specialised housing advice: apply for homeless help.

There are often steps that you can take to stay in your home. We may be able to help you to make an agreement with your landlord or to help you to challenge the eviction in court.

We may be able to help you to make an agreement with your landlord or to help you to challenge the eviction in court. 

If the landlord wants to evict you because of rent arrears you should try to contact them to discuss the arrears and make a repayment arrangement.

If you hold a joint tenancy with your ex-partner this means that you have a legal right to occupy the property that you are living in together. As a joint tenant your ex-partner cannot exclude you from the property without a court order and you cannot exclude your ex-partner.

If you live with your ex-partner but only their name is on the tenancy agreement then you may still have a right to remain in the property. Your rights will depend on your circumstances including whether or not you are married or in a civil partnership with your ex-partner. We recommend that you seek legal advice to establish what your rights are before leaving the property.

Learn more by visiting Citizens Advice – what happens to your home when you separate

The housing charity Shelter has guidance explaining your rights when your relationship breaks down.

Contact us if your ex-partner has excluded you from the property and you become homeless: apply for homeless help.

Contact 999 if you are in immediate danger or experiencing domestic abuse.

Make sure you can afford to stay. 

You may be entitled to support, such as Universal Credit, to help you pay your rent.

See GOV.UK – benefit calculator to find out if you’re entitled to any support.

If your ex-partner gives your landlord notice they intend to leave then this may end your tenancy. If your ex-partner gives your landlord notice, speak to your landlord because they may agree to transfer the tenancy to you as the sole tenant.

If you decide to leave the property you should speak to your landlord about formally ending your tenancy so that you do not continue to remain liable for the rent even after you have moved out of the property.

See Find a private rented home to find somewhere else to live before you leave.  

If you decide to leave the property you should speak to your landlord about formally ending your tenancy so that you do not continue to remain liable for the rent even after you have moved out of the property.

There are services that can help, but they’re not free. If you’re on a low income you may be able to get legal aid to help you pay for the services.

See GOV.UK – check if you can get legal aid

Mediation services can help you to talk to your ex-partner. 

They help you and your ex-partner have your say on the situation and keep the conversation focused.

They won’t give you advice about your housing situation. 

Contact:

• Relate – a national charity and the UK’s largest provider of relationship support
• MarriageCare – employs relationship counsellors to help couples relationships; they don’t charge a fixed fee but ask for a contribution

Solicitors can give you advice about how to move forward if you and your partner can’t agree. 

Family arbitration can make a legally binding decision on property disputes.

See Citizens Advice – using mediation to help you separate.

If you’re in immediate danger always call the police on 999. For non-emergency police enquiries call 101.

Contact us if you’re fleeing abuse and need emergency housing: apply for homeless help.

You’re considered homeless if you’re at risk of domestic abuse in your home. You can approach any council for help. You do not need to have a local connection to the council that you approach.

We do not recommend that you give up your home permanently until you have sought advice and considered all the options available.

If you:

• are a Hackney Council tenant contact us for help: 020 8356 3330 or neighbourhood@hackney.gov.uk
• live in temporary accommodation (TA) provided by us then contact your hostel manager or our TA team: 0208 356 1410
• are a Housing Association tenant contact your landlord  to discuss your options

See domestic abuse support – other organisations that can help

See the housing charity Shelter – Help if you’re homeless because of domestic abuse

If your landlord asks you to leave your property, or your mortgage lender has started proceedings against you, contact us: apply for homeless help.

Resources that can help if you’re struggling to afford your home:

• Money helper provides a free budget planner to help you to understand your household spending and take control of your money
• The Policy in Practice benefit calculator can help you to identify any benefits that you may be missing out on.
• Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loans can help if you are a homeowner struggling with the interest on your mortgage
• Hackney Community Law Centre can provide legal advice about how to prioritise any debts that you have and can negotiate with creditors
• The National Homelessness Advice Service’s has produced the following useful guides:
  • Are you worried about your mortgage? Providing advice for homeowners worried about affordability
  • Taking in a lodger : Money matters For those thinking about taking in a lodger for the extra income
• Breathing Space can give you a break from paying debts to allow you to receive debt advice and find a solution to your debt problems
• Hackney Money Hub can help you to maximise your income and may be able to provide support such as Discretionary Housing Payments or help to afford living essentials

If you live in privately rented accommodation, see complain about poor or substandard private housing

If you are a Hackney Council tenant, contact our repairs contact centre. 

If you live in a property that’s in disrepair it can still be considered as suitable if measures such as repairs could be undertaken to improve its condition and bring it to a suitable standard.

If you are entering prison you may be able to claim support to help you to pay your rent or mortgage if you intend to return to the property.

Contact our benefits team to let them know when you go on remand and when you are sentenced – see report a benefits change of circumstances.

Most prisons have a resettlement service called Through the Gate. The service is delivered by charities including Shelter, St Giles Trust and Catch22.

A resettlement worker draws up a resettlement plan when you enter prison and it should be reviewed before you leave.

Tell your resettlement worker about the type of housing you live in and if you’ll have problems with rent, mortgage payments or eviction whilst in prison.

See the housing charity Shelter – keeping your home when in prison

See GOV.UK – benefits and prison

Before leaving prison, you are referred to us if you’re:

• homeless or likely to be homeless in the next 8 weeks
• being released in the next 8 weeks with nowhere suitable to stay
• staying in probation or bail accommodation with nowhere to go next

We will only provide you with emergency accommodation if you’re considered to have a priority need. For example, if you are vulnerable as a result of a physical or mental health condition.

The day you’re released you get a prison discharge grant of £82.52. We recommend you use this money to help secure accommodation if you have nowhere to live.

At the prison Governor’s discretion, an additional payment of up to £50 may be paid directly to a genuine accommodation provider to help you to secure a release address. This discretionary payment cannot be paid directly to you.

See the housing charity Shelter – Help with housing when you leave prison

Organisations that help ex-offenders:

• NACRO – (National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders) can provide help on a range of issues including housing
• St Giles – provides ex-offenders with the support and services they need to successfully re-adjust to life in the community
• Women In Prison – provides support to women on a range of issues including housing
• PACT  – a national charity that support people in prison, people with convictions and their families to make a fresh start
• Breakthrough – a London-based organisation offering prison leavers fully paid apprenticeships for roles in tech or business
• Working chance – helps women offenders make the transition into employment, helping them find paid work and offering voluntary placements

• Veterans Aid – a London based charity that helps ex-service men and women find housing
• The Royal British Legion – supports serving and ex-serving personnel on a range of issues
• SSAFA – (the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) provides welfare, help and support services to regulars and reserves
• STOLL – a leading provider of supported housing to vulnerable veterans
• HAIG Housing – the leading housing provider for ex-Service personnel in the UK
• Op FORTITUDE – funded by the Armed Forces Covenant and works with individual veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness