Homelessness advice and assistance
Preston City Council's Housing Advice Support
Preston City Council offer advice and support to Preston residents at risk of becoming homeless.
You need to contact the Council as soon as you think you may be at risk of losing your home. This will provide more time to prevent you becoming homeless or help you to find somewhere else to live before you do.
Alternatively:
- Telephone - 01772 906412 (out of hours: 01772 906014)
- In person - Housing Advisory Service, Town Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RL
Please note: if you live outside Preston, you need to contact your local council.
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Housing assessment
After the initial contact, the Council may need to arrange to see you again to complete a full housing assessment and agree a personal housing plan.
You will need to provide evidence of your housing problem, so the Council can give you accurate advice. For example:
- a tenancy agreement
- notice to quit or notice seeking possession
- court documents
- arrears letter
- financial information
The Housing Advisory Officer will talk to you about your current situation, discuss any difficulties you are having and help you look at your options to either:
- help you stay in your current home or find alternative accommodation prior to becoming homeless (prevention duty)
- find alternative housing if you are already homeless (relief duty)
For more information visit Preston City Council's personal housing plan process page.
How to apply as homeless?
The National Homelessness Advice Service have designed a flowchart on how to apply as homeless. This provides an overview of the steps the council will follow if you apply for homeless help.
You can also download the Personal housing plans, which provides information on why you are given a personal housing plan if you apply for help as homeless.
The Homeless Reduction Act
The Homelessness Reduction Act covers what help is available and what the Council can offer to people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
Under this Act the Council must:
- carry out prevention and relief work for anyone who is threatened with homelessness within the next 56 days
- provide advice and carry out prevention work, so that ,wherever possible, people can be supported to remain in their current home
- offer everyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness access to meaningful help, irrespective of their priority need status, as long as they are eligible for assistance