What we can do
If you are homeless today and not living in Westmorland and Furness you should contact your local council for housing help.
In Westmorland and Furness, if you are eligible for our help and homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days, we will:
- make an initial assessment and arrange an interview to get more information
- carry out a needs assessment and develop a Personalised Housing Plan with you
- provide a written decision on your application as to which duty is owed to you by the Council
- work with you to prevent or relieve your homelessness
Under the Homelessness Reduction Act, you must cooperate with any reasonable steps and efforts we have agreed with you to prevent you from becoming homeless or find you an alternative home.
Prevention duty
If you are threatened with homelessness within 56 days the Council will have a duty to:
- try and prevent homelessness
- to try and enable you to stay in your home or to help you find alternative accommodation
We can offer advice on your legal rights. We may negotiate with your current landlord or the person you live with to prevent you becoming homeless.
We can help you to find alternative housing, or provide a range of other housing options.
The prevention duty will end if you:
- are able to remain in the accommodation you are in
- accept alternative accommodation which is suitable and likely to last for at least 6 months
- reject alternative accommodation which was suitable and was likely to last for at least 6 months
- refuse to engage with the help which is being offered
- lose contact with the Council
- cease to be eligible for assistance
- become homeless
- withdraw your application
Relief Duty
If homelessness cannot be prevented the Council will have a duty to relieve your homelessness. This duty lasts for 56 days. During this period the Council will help to secure you alternative accommodation. Only people who the Council have reason to believe have a priority need will be offered temporary accommodation.
The help the Council will provide is likely to include:
- giving you your local housing options
- giving advice and helping you with your difficulties in finding somewhere else to live
- assisting you to find accommodation through Cumbria Choice Based Lettings and in the private rented sector
- considering you for financial assistance to help you to secure private rented accommodation
- referring you for supported housing
- develop a Personalised Housing Plan with you
This relief duty will come to an end if you:
- accept alternative accommodation which is suitable and likely to last for at least 6 months
- reject alternative accommodation which was suitable and was likely to last for at least 6 months
- refuse to engage with the help which is being offered
- lose contact with the Council
- cease to be eligible for assistance
- withdraw your application
- 56 period comes to an end
If you are still homeless after this period the Council will make a decision on what further duties you are owed. The extent of these duties depend on whether you have a priority need or whether your homelessness was your fault.
The Council’s duties to help you may be reduced if you rejected suitable accommodation or refused to engage with us whilst we had the 56 day duty to relieve your homelessness.
Reasons for homelessness
Reasons why you might be homeless, or at risk of losing your home include:
- your home isn’t safe because of domestic violence or abuse
- you are sleeping rough or street homeless
- you’ve been asked to leave by your landlord
- you have been asked to leave by family or friends
You should read the guidance relative to you. Even if your reason isn't listed, you can make an application.
Council or housing association properties
Housing in the area is in high demand. Each day, people register for council housing assistance. Some have a higher priority, which means you may move up or down the register. You may have to wait a long time for a property.
To join the register you need to register with Cumbria Choice, who hold the register for Cumbria.
All main providers of social housing advertise through Cumbria Choice. This includes any of our vacant council housing properties in Eden and Barrow.
We have no housing stock in South Lakeland. Housing associations own and advertise social housing in South Lakeland through Cumbria Choice.
How to apply for social housing
To register for social housing and to bid for properties, you will need to register with Cumbria Choice.
Register on the Cumbria Choice website
See what services Cumbria Choice offer on their website
Alternatively, you can request help to complete an application form from one of our offices.
Contact us
Barrow area
Email: dutytorefer1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Office hours telephone: 01229 876599
Eden area
Email: housingoptions@edenha.org.uk
and dutytorefer2@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Office hours telephone: 01768 212179
South Lakeland area
Email: homelessness@southlakeland.gov.uk
Office hours telephone: 01539 793 199
Out of hours contact details
Telephone: 01229 833311