Homelessness

Since the Homelessness Act 2002 came into force the Council's emphasis has been on doing everything it can within the policies and resources available to it to keep people in their homes. The Council will need to determine at what stage a homelessness application is accepted.

Under the Homelessness Act 2002, an application will only be taken if the applicant is homeless today, or threatened with homelessness within 28 days.

Under the legal definition you will be considered as being homeless if:

• There is nowhere that you and your family can stay
• You no longer have a legal right to remain in your home
• You have somewhere to live but you cannot get into it
• You are at risk of violence from someone who is living in your home
• Your home is a caravan or boat and you have nowhere to park / moor it and live in it
• It is not reasonable to continue living in your home for example because of its condition or there is something else which might make it dangerous for you to live there (this would have to be qualified by an Environmental Health Officer)