The Homelessness Prevention Officer
The Homeless Prevention Officer explores if it is possible for people, who would be considered as being ‘in priority need’, e.g. with dependent children, to consider options other than making a formal application for housing under housing law, if their current tenancy/licence is ending.
There are two reasons for this:
- the formal homelessness process is stressful and legalistic,
- the Council has an ever decreasing number of vacant properties to let and cannot hope to house the majority of homeless people into permanent accommodation quickly.
The Prevention Officer always looks at three options;
- to see if there is any way households can stay in their current accommodation, even for a short period of time
- look at legal rights, and if necessary, get further specialist advice
- to see if, by working together (sometimes with the cooperation of the landlord or householder) a relatively smooth transition can be made to alternative accommodation in the private sector
If does take time to arrange prevention so if there is a Possession Order from the Court – a formal homelessness application should be made.
The Housing Department has some contacts among a minority of private landlords of local property. Occasionally a few vacancies are notified to us but only an extremely limited number. If vacancies do occur the fairest way is to put a number of cases forward and let the landlord decide. Tenancies are likely to last longer if there is a good working relationship between landlord and tenant.
For further information please contact the Homelessness Prevention Officer.
Lots of people have also managed to successfully approach landlords and estate agents themselves. Please try searching shop windows, newspapers, asking friends, asking relatives and asking work colleagues if they may have heard or know of any accommodation.
