If you are threatened with homelessness within 56 days (2 months), you are likely to be owed the 'Prevention Duty' under the legislation.

What will happen:

You will be allocated a Housing Officer who will assess your needs and issue you a Personalised Housing Plan. This will contain actions for both you and your housing officer to complete to try to resolve your housing situation. There will be actions agreed that you must complete. If you do not complete these, we may discharge the prevention duty owed to you.

We will initially try to help you keep your current home. This may be through mediation or negotiation if only to allow you more time for a planned move. If we are unable to do this, we will try to help you secure alternative accommodation. This may be providing you additional assistance to find a private rented property, offer you financial assistance and/or negotiate with a landlord on you behalf so they offer you a tenancy. You may also be asked to attend a Money Advice appointment and/or Tenancy Passport Course so you can maintain a tenancy.

You will be given support and assistance throughout the 56 period.

You will be offered the Prevention Duty if you are assessed as

• eligible for assistance – You have a legal right to live and work in the UK with recourse to public funds
• threatened with homelessness within 56 days

You will be owed this duty even if you are unlikely to be considered to be in priority need for assistance and regardless of whether you may be intentionally homeless.