Housing Options
If you are homeless, or think that you may be threatened with homelessness please contact Housing Options team immediately on 01323 443322 and ask for the one of our Housing Options Officers - you are entitled to free advice
Am I Homeless?
The definition of homeless, set out in the Housing Act 1996, states that you are homeless if:
- You have no accommodation in the UK or elsewhere
- You have a home but cannot gain entry
- Your home is a boat, mobile home or caravan and you have nowhere to moor or park
- You have nowhere you can live together with all your family
- You have somewhere to stay, but it is unreasonable for you to continue to stay there e.g. domestic abuse or poor conditions
Am I in priority need?
Before you are entitled to any accommodation as a homeless person, you must also be in 'priority need' i.e.
- You have a dependent child who is residing with you
- You or a member of your household is pregnant
- Your household includes a person who may be vulnerable because of old age, mental illness, physical disability or some other special reason
- You are homeless as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster
Intentionally Homeless
You may be regarded as intentionally homeless if you have done something, or failed to do something, which has caused you to lose accommodation.
Local Connection
Consideration is also made as to whether or not you have a local connection with the Wealden District. This is defined as whether you or another member of your household satisfies one or more of the following criteria:
- You have lived in the District for six months out of the last twelve, or three years out of the last five
- You have employment in the District
- You have a close relative of a member of your household living in the District, and they have lived here for the last five years
- Some other special connection
Following completion of the assessment of your Homelessness application, a Housing Options Officer will explore the number of options available to you to meet your housing needs. Some assistance can be available to those who do not qualify for a full housing responsibility. Contact the Housing Options Team for further information.
Further Information
For full details of the Council's Legal Duties or if you require Housing Advice please contact a member of the Housing Options Team on 01323 443322, email housing@wealden.gov.uk or write to us at the Hailsham Offices.
If you have an emergency when the offices are closed contact Lifeline, our 24 hour response service on 01323 410051.