Homelessness and Housing Advice
Your Housing Journey Explained
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Housing advice
Please complete the above housing advice contact form for further housing advice and assistance.
The link below allows access to incomplete forms:
Housing advice contact form incomplete
You will require your national insurance number prior to completing the form.
If you are not able to complete this form on your device, please contact a member of the Housing Options Team who will be able to support you to do this.
Once we have received your housing advice form, a member of the team will contact you to discuss your situation. This will initially be by phone or email. In some cases you may be invited to an interview at the Council offices in Haywards Heath but this will be discussed with you if required.
A member of the Housing Options team will then complete a housing assessment with you. This may involve completing a personalised housing plan so that we can establish how you can work with the council to resolve your situation. This may take 1-2 hours. You will need to bring relevant paperwork with you such as:
- Proof of ID
- Tenancy agreement
- Notice to quit
- Details of your income
Advice about homelessness
We offer support and help whether you're homeless or worried about becoming homeless.
The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 puts a legal duty on councils to offer more support to a wider range of people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness - and to intervene earlier.
Please see the relevant category to see how we can help you. Prevention and Relief duties both last 56 days, if we cannot help you within this time then we shall assess you under Full Duty.
Please complete the housing advice contact form if you are at risk of becoming homeless.
There are lots of services to help you to stay in your current home, including help with financial difficulties, tenancy matters or relationship breakdown.
We will carry out a housing assessment and agree a personal housing plan with you to prevent homelessness - this duty lasts for 56 days and can end for several reasons including:
- if we help you keep your home
- if we help you to find alternative accommodation
- if you refuse accommodation
- if you do not co-operate with your personal housing plan
- if you cease to be eligible, if you withdraw the application
- if you lose contact with us
Please complete the housing advice contact form if you are already homeless.
If you are actually homeless, there are certain circumstances when we will offer you temporary accommodation while we continue to help you find somewhere to live.
We will carry out a housing assessment and agree a personal housing plan to help you find alternative accommodation - this duty usually lasts for 56 days and can end for several reasons including:
- if we help you to find alternative accommodation
- if you refuse accommodation
- if you do not co-operate with your personal housing plan
- if you cease to be eligible
- if you withdraw the application
- if you lose contact with us
- if you have no local connection you may be referred to another authority if it is save to do so
If we cannot help you to keep your home or find you alternative accommodation then you will be assessed under the Housing Act 1996 when the 56 day relief duty has ended. There is only a duty to continue to provide temporary accommodation if you meet the following 5 criteria:
- eligibility: eligible for assistance in accordance with section 185 of the Housing Act 1996
- homeless: declared homeless in accordance with section 175 of the Housing Act 1996
- priority need: in need of assistance as set out in section 189 of the Housing Act 1996 (for example, a family with children, pregnant women, care leavers, or those who are vulnerable due to old age, disabilities, mental health, or domestic violence)
- unintentionally homeless: 'intentionally' refers to whether or not someone has done or failed to do something which was a deliberate act, the consequence of which led to the loss of their home in accordance with section 191 of the Housing Act 1996
Your connection to the district will also be considered. If you do not have a local connection to this area then you may be referred to another local authority for assistance if it is safe to do so.
More information about Homelessness Reduction Act
If you would like more information about the Homeless Reduction Act and the new duties please see the following links:
- What the changes in homelessness law mean for you - key changes to the help you can now receive from us due to the Homelessness Reduction Act
- Applying as homeless
Other online housing advice
You can also get housing advice online through:
Ex-service personnel
- Take a look at our list of local charities providing advice, support and accommodation.
- Veterans Aid - the leading charity for homeless ex-service personnel
- Veterans' Gateway - contact for veterans seeking support
- Local charities
- Armed Forces Community Covenant
Domestic abuse
Please see our domestic abuse page for information and guidance.
Rough Sleepers
Please see our rough sleepers page for information.
Care Leavers
Who is a Care Leaver?
The definition of a Care Leaver is a young person aged 16-25 years old who has been ‘looked after’ at some point since they were 14 years old and were in care on or after their 16th birthday. Care leavers are entitled to some ongoing help and support from Children’s Services after they leave care.
There are different categories of Care Leavers depending on age, when the Care Leaver was in care and for how long.
Resources
- Please see West Sussex County Council’s Leaving Care Local Offer to details of the help available
- For information on what help the Council can provide to help you find somewhere to live and if your are homeless please visit Shelter website
- If you are homeless or worried about becoming homeless please see our Homelessness and Housing Advice page
- For advice on how to apply for social housing in Mid Sussex please see our Apply for Social Housing page
Hospital Leavers
If you do not have anywhere to go after leaving hospital, you need to speak to the Hospital Discharge Worker as soon as possible. They will either work with you to find accommodation or refer you to us for specialist advice and assistance. If you need advice or assistance please complete our Housing Advice contact form
Leaving Prison
For information about the support available please see https://www.gov.uk/leaving-prison/support-when-someone-leaves-prison. If you need do not have anywhere to live on leaving prison, the prison will either work with you to find accommodation and or refer you to us for specialist advice and assistance. If you need advice or assistance please complete our Housing Advice contact form
Homelessness Prevention Surgeries
If you’re struggling with housing issues, and may be at risk of homelessness, then we’re here to help.
We hold regular Homelessness Prevention Surgeries in Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead, to give you the support you need.
We can help with:
- Eviction notices from your current accommodation
- Domestic abuse or other forms of violence or harassment
- Rent arrears and financial difficulties
- Reduced income due to job loss or change in benefits
- Unresolved property disrepair
If you’re going through housing challenges, it’s important to reach out to us now - before it’s too late.
You can book an appointment online or at any of the three venues below.
Burgess Hill Pantry
25-29 The Martlets
Burgess Hill
RH15 9NN
Bentswood Hub
34 America Lane
Haywards Heath
RH16 3QB
East Grinstead
Foodbank Jubilee Centre Unit 1
Charlswood Road
East Grinstead
RH19 2HL
Contact us
The Housing Options Team
Tel: 01444-477574
Email: housingadvice@midsussex.gov.uk