Online services may be unavailable on occasions during Saturday 26th May 2012 and Sunday 27th May 2012 due to essential maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and we'll be aiming to minimize any distruption.

Are you in "Priority Need"?

If you are homeless and eligible for assistance, then the Council needs to determine whether you are also in priority need. The Council has a duty to provide temporary accommodation if needed.

You are considered to be in priority need if you are:

  • a pregnant woman or a person with whom she resides or might reasonably be expected to reside
  • a person with whom dependent children reside or might reasonably be expected to reside
  • a person who is vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap or physical disability or other special reason, or with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside
  • a person aged 16 or 17 who is not a ‘relevant child’ or a child in need to whom a local authority owes a duty under section 20 of the Children Act 1989
  • a person under 21 who was (but is no longer) looked after, accommodated or fostered between the ages of 16 and 18 (except a person who is a ‘relevant student’)
  • a person aged 21 or more who is vulnerable as a result of having been looked after, accommodated or fostered (except a person who is a ‘relevant student’)
  • a person who is vulnerable as a result of having been a member of Her Majesty’s regular naval, military or air forces
  • a person who is vulnerable as a result of:

(a) having served a custodial sentence,

(b) having been committed for contempt of court or any other kindred offence, or

(c) having been remanded in custody;

  • a person who is vulnerable as a result of ceasing to occupy accommodation because of violence from another person or threats of violence from another person which are likely to be carried out
  • a person who is vulnerable for any other special reason, or with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside
  • a person who is homeless, or threatened with homelessness, as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster

If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, eligible and in priority need then further enquiries need to be made.

If you are eligible but not in priority need, you are entitled to advice and assistance to help you find your own accommodation, or to prevent you from losing any accommodation you may have at the moment.

The next question we need to ask is whether you are classed as intentionally homeless. Please click here to find out whether you are classed as "intentionally homeless"

NB. These pages are for guidance only. Please seek professional advice before acting on any information.

Page last updated on 24 May 2012