Get help to avoid becoming homeless

How we can help you

We will provide advice on a range of housing issues, from landlord disputes to homelessness. We'll look at all of your options, from supported accommodation to privately rented housing. 

Helping you keep your home

If you're in danger of losing your home, we will work with you to prevent this happening. We can help if:

• you're fleeing domestic abuse
• facing possession proceedings
• being harassed or evicted by your landlord 
• being asked to leave by friends or relatives.
• struggling to pay your rent or mortgage

• you need help to live in your home

Finding a new home

If it's not possible to prevent you becoming homeless, we will try to help you to find a new home, whether that's renting from a private landlord or housing associations.

Emergencies

If you are homeless tonight and it is after office hours (5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 4.30pm Friday) please contact our Care Connect.

What we must do

Within 56 days, we must prevent you from becoming homeless, or find an alternative solution for you.  If we are not able to do this, we will start enquiries to confirm that you:

• are eligible
• are homeless or threatened with homelessness
• are in a priority need
• you have made yourself intentionally homelessness
• have a local connection to Durham.

If you are eligible, we may offer temporary accommodation while we carry out enquiries. Please remember we are responding to a crisis situation and therefore, may have to rely on temporary accommodation that may not be in an area of your choice, and smaller than your ideal requirement. 

See Shelter for more information on the help we must provide.

If you are unhappy with our decision

If we reach a decision that you are not happy with, you can ask us to review the decision. We will tell you who you must contact, and when you must do this by. The person who carries out the review will not have been involved in your case previously.