At risk of homelessness or need housing

You don’t have to be rough sleeping to be homeless. There are a number of different situations that could mean you are considered homeless or threatened with homelessness.

It may be because you:

• have come to the end of your contract and your landlord has asked you to leave
• have fallen into rent arrears and your landlord has given you an eviction notice
• are staying with friends or 'sofa surfing' and they have asked you to leave
• are at risk of violence or abuse where you are living.
• are street homeless or rough sleeping
• can't afford to stay where you are
• have been locked out of your property or you have been illegally evicted
• live somewhere that is in a very poor condition
• are experiencing problems in a relationship with your partner or close family and you cannot continue to live there
• have nowhere to put your houseboat or caravan.

If your landlord is harassing you, refuses to carry out essential repairs, or is trying to evict you unlawfully then there is help available.

Private Rented Sector Sustainment and Compliance Team

We have a dedicated team that works with both landlords and tenants to address issues at an early stage. They focus on preventing tenancy breakdown, supporting tenants to remain in their homes where possible, and working with landlords to manage concerns effectively, including linking with enforcement where necessary. To contact the team, please email: prssustainmentandcompliance@brent.gov.uk

Not everyone qualifies for housing. Our resources and funds are limited, so we only offer accommodation to those who need it most. Visit the Shelter website to find out who qualifies for housing.

If you are at risk of becoming homeless, we can work with you to try and prevent your homelessness and resolve any housing issues you may have. We can:

• offer advice on finding a home
• try to prevent or delay you becoming homeless
• explain your rights
• offer advice on your tenancy

If we have a legal duty to offer accommodation, we will offer private rented or temporary accommodation.

If you’ve no rights to public funds such as benefits, we may not be able to provide you with housing but we can offer housing advice.

If you have no priority need for housing then we have no legal duty to provide you with accommodation.

If you face the threat of homelessness in the next few weeks then complete our online housing needs assessment to receive further advice and information about the options available to you.

You will need to register or sign in to My Account to complete a housing assistance application. Once you have signed in, select ‘Applications for Housing Assistance’ from the list.

Before you start

Ensure you have read the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

You will need to have a few details to hand, including evidence of your current situation, address, right to live in the UK, employment status and any medical issues.

Access a previous application

If you have already applied for housing assistance via our website before, then make sure you use the same email address that you used previously when you created your new account. Once you are in My Account you can view your past applications. 

How to find a place you can afford

• Talk to friends and family about any opportunities/vacancies 
• Sign up with estate agents
• Search online for rental homes. Good websites to check are:
  • On the Market
  • Rightmove
  • Zoopla
  • Homefinder UK

You can also check:

• Local lettings agencies
• Private landlords
• Local newspapers
• Shop windows, community notice boards, supermarket boards.

House or flat shares

If you are searching for accommodation as a single person, a more affordable option is to search for rooms to rent.

Rooms in house shares can be found on websites such as:

• Spareroom
• Houseshare
• Roomster

If you can't find a place you can afford in Brent

Be more flexible in your choice of area – widen your search to outside of the borough, and outside of London.

When you find a place you can afford

If you are already working with us and have a live homelessness application, please email your housing officer when you find a property you can afford.

If you don’t yet have a housing officer or haven’t started the process with us, you’ll need to have an active case in order to be approved for support through this scheme. Please get in touch with our team as early as possible to start this process. Please visit at risk of homelessness or call us on 0208 937 2000 (option 2) for guidance.

Once you’re approved and have found a property, we will:

• Check that the property is affordable for you in the long term
• Ensure the property is safe and suitable for your needs
• Offer financial help to secure the tenancy
• Speak with the landlord or agent on your behalf