Homelessness in Luton

What does homeless really mean?

You are homeless if you have no accommodation anywhere in the world where you can live. There may be other situations when you are considered homeless, such as if you have somewhere to live but it is either unsafe or unhealthy for you to stay there.

If you think you are homeless please talk to us as soon as you can. You can do this by phone on 01582 51 03 70 or by visiting us at the address below.

Before you contact us, please read the guidelines below. These will explain more fully whether we think we can help you and also tell you what documents and information we need to help us assess your situation.

Can the Council help me?

We can’t help everyone who has nowhere to live. For example we can’t help:

• anyone from abroad subject to an immigration condition
• asylum seekers
• if you had moved abroad and then returned here to live
• if you are homeless because a landlord has evicted you for not paying your rent or because you have behaved badly
• if you don’t have a local connection to Luton such as family, work, residency or a special reason for needing to live here

If we can help you we will, but we have to help people in certain situations first. These priority needs may include:

• pregnant women
• a family including children up to the age of 18 who are reasonably expected to live with them
• homeless 16/17 year olds
• people who are vulnerable, for example someone with a severe medical or mental health issues
• people who are homeless due to fire or flood
• people who are vulnerable for "special reasons" – such as a young person who has no funds and is at risk of financial or sexual exploitation or domestic violence

If we agree that you are homeless we will give you temporary housing. Once there we need to make sure you are not ‘intentionally homeless’.

What does ‘Intentionally Homeless’ mean?
You are intentionally homeless if you deliberately do or fail to do something which results in losing your home. The most common example is where you have enough income coming into the household but deliberately don’t pay the rent, resulting in your eviction by their landlord.

If we decide you are intentionally homeless, then we no longer have to give you temporary housing even if you are homeless, eligible and in priority need. You would have to leave and make your own plans. This can even be the case if you have children.
 
If we decide you are not intentionally homeless, we will then look to see if you have a local connection.

What is a 'Local Connection'?
This means you have links with Luton:

• family connection – you have a mother, father, brother, sister or child living in Luton who has lived here for at least five years
  employment in Luton
• residence - this means you normally live here - this should be 6 out of the last 12 months or 3 out of the last 5 years
• some other special reason – such as if you need continuous medical treatment that you can only get at a local hospital

If you don’t have a local connection with Luton, but do have one elsewhere, then we will refer you to that council.

How to make a homeless claim
If you think you have a valid claim or are still unsure please talk to us. The best thing to do is to come and talk in person. It will help us if you bring all or some of the following information:

• immigration papers
• passport for each person in your household
• full birth certificates for any children
• proof of any state benefits you get such as job seekers allowances, family tax creits and child benefit
• proof of any income/earnings your household may have
• copies of any court documents such as possession order, bailiffs warrant etc
• copy of any tenancy agreement you may have
• proof you have been living at the address you claim to be homeless from

What happens after you have made a claim?
We will investigate your situation and let you know if you can stay in temporary accommodation or not. We will try and complete our enquiries within 28 days and issue a written decision within 3 days of making the decision.

Please bear in mind:

• offers of permanent accommodation from the housing needs register are made in date order, giving priority to those who have waited the longest
• offers of permanent accommodation made  will be suitable to your needs and family size and could be in any area of Luton
• we do not own a lot of properties so the offer could be in a housing association property or a flat in a high rise block
• if you refuse an offer of a home, our duty will end.  Not only will we not give further offers of accommodation but you will also have to leave you temporary housing
• If you are evicted for bad behaviour or not paying the rent, we may decide you have become intentionally homeless and have no further duty to house you or make further offers
• if you find your own accommodation and leave your temporary housing, then your application as homeless ends

If you are unhappy about a decision we make, you may appeal against your homeless decision.