How can the Council help

If you are threatened with homelessness or about to become homeless, contact the Housing Options Team as early as possible.

We will do everything we can to prevent you from becoming homeless or help you find housing which meets your needs.

How can we help

The team can support you if you are homeless or likely to lose your home soon. We can review your housing circumstances, let you know your housing rights and discuss what the authority can do to try and prevent the situation from escalating. We can provide you with the tools and support to manage the situation independently and signpost you to other specialist teams where appropriate.

When we are unable to prevent you from having to leave your home, and if you are eligible, we will need to arrange an appointment to complete a full homeless application with you. We will ask you to provide documents such as proof of your ID, previous address, medical conditions, and notice from your landlord or family asking you to leave.

If you are eligible for help, we will assess your needs and discuss your options. We will work with you to create your own Personal Housing Plan. This plan will address the steps needed to meet your housing needs. Your Housing Officer will make enquiries into your Homeless Application to decide whether the Council has a statutory duty to assist you in securing permanent, settled accommodation.

In some cases, we may not be able to help you directly. However, we will always advise where you can find assistance, and we may be able to make a referral to another local council or signpost you to other specialist teams where appropriate.

What we need from you

You will need to be able to prove that you are eligible for help by:

• providing proof of citizenship or immigration status
• And are homeless or at risk of homelessness

That may include either of the following:

•  a section 21 Notice (if you are privately renting)
• a letter confirming your circumstances

If you are homeless and do not have a connection to North Norfolk

We may refer your application to another authority unless you flee another area due to domestic abuse or violence.

Assessing your needs and creating your Personal Housing Plan

If you are eligible for help, we will assess your needs and discuss your options with you. We will work with you to create your own Personal Housing Plan. This plan will address the steps needed to see to your housing needs. 

Our duty to prevent homelessness

North Norfolk District Council will advise and assist people about to become homeless within 56 days. If you are eligible for assistance and at risk of losing your home, we will try to prevent your homelessness by helping you to:

• remain in your current accommodation
• find somewhere else suitable for you and your household

Under the law and as part of our prevention duty, all applicants must work and engage with the Council as we take steps to prevent their homelessness together.

Our duty to relieve homelessness

The Council can offer you emergency accommodation while we continue working with you to find alternative accommodation suitable for you and your household. If you are one of the following:

• already homeless and considered eligible
• we cannot prevent your eviction from your current accommodation 

And you are classed as one of the following:

• vulnerable person
• a person with a priority need 

Under the new Act and as part of our effort to find you alternative accommodation, all applicants will be required to work and engage with the Council to end their homelessness.

The main housing duty

Suppose we have been unsuccessful in finding suitable accommodation after 56 days. In that case, this duty will end, and the Council will decide if you are owed the main housing duty.

If we assess after 56 days that you are:

• homeless
• eligible for assistance
• in priority need
• did not become homeless intentionally

The Council will be under a duty to find you a long-term alternative, suitable accommodation. An offer of suitable accommodation can be in the private sector or social housing. 

If the Council says it cannot help you

You can challenge the Council's decision. If you think the Council's decision is wrong, contact an independent local advice centre such as the Citizens Advice Bureau as soon as possible.