Homelessness support and Housing Advice

Homelessness Support

Advice and guidance if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless

If you are homeless please call the Housing Solutions Team

Between 10am – 4pm working days on 01432 261600 and select option 3

Out of hours or on bank holidays 01432 261600

If you are sleeping rough and want to find out about local support services or you have seen or know of someone who is rough sleeping please go to StreetLink - Connecting people sleeping rough to local services (thestreetlink.org.uk)

Housing Options and Advice

There is a range of different housing options available, depending upon your circumstances.  

The three main options available are: 

• Renting from a private landlord (a house, flat or room in a shared house)
• Social Housing /Renting from a social or not-for-profit landlord – a housing association or housing cooperative
• buying (or part-buying) your own home. 

There are pro's and con's to each: 

Renting from a Private Landlord 

Private renting will give you more choice of where you live and the type of property, but it is usually more expensive. They tend to offer properties on six monthly tenancies, which can be renewed if they are happy with the way you have managed your tenancy. You don't have the same security of tenure, but the shorter tenancies and higher mobility can work for people who need to move frequently.  

Rents can be higher than in social housing. You will need to have a deposit and often a month’s rent in advance. You can also find you have less rights and private landlords are less open to changes being made to the property. However, there is no waiting list for private rentals and if you receive housing benefit or the housing element of UC, you may be able to get help with rent shortfall, rent deposits and rent in advance (if you need to move home). Find out more about private renting deposit and bond scheme by clicking on this link Housing in Herefordshire – Herefordshire Council 

Privately rented properties can be advertised: 

• online
• in local newspapers
• on noticeboards in supermarkets or other shops
• through letting agents

Some websites advertise private rented accommodation. These include:

• DSS Move
• Gumtree
• On the Market
• Openrent
• Zoopla
• Rightmove
• SpareRoom

Social Housing

With social housing you tend to have more security of tenure and guarantees of service such as repairs. Rents are generally lower than if you rent privately, but this gap is narrowing. 

Making an application for social housing

Anyone who has the legal right to live in the UK can apply to join the housing register. You can make a housing register application here Register | Herefordshire. If your application is accepted and you are live on the housing register, you will be able to apply for affordable rented housing. Demand for social housing can be high however, so if you are not in urgent housing need or have a priority need, you may struggle to find a home in the area you want.  A priority need is a special reason why the council, must give you more help if you are homeless or facing homelessness to find out more about this click on this link Housing in Herefordshire – Herefordshire Council 
 

Buying or part buying your home

You can find  advice and support if you are trying to get a foot on the home ownership ladder, but cannot afford market prices via the following link Housing in Herefordshire – Herefordshire Council