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General housing information and advice

Advice to residents on all housing related issues, including private sector tenancies, mortgage arrears, relationship breakdowns, welfare benefits, rents and repairs.

The Council's Housing Advice Service provides a free impartial and confidential service for people who need help with housing issues. We offer information, advice and practical help to prevent people becoming homeless.

We can provide advice on a variety of problems, including:

Preventing homelessness

We can give you practical advice to either help you stay in your own home, or move to alternative housing in the area.

Rent and mortgage problems

If you have difficulty paying your rent or mortgage, we can offer help and advice. This can include advice on eviction and possession proceedings and help with Court forms.

Increasing your income

You may be entitled to welfare benefit or tax credits - we can help you with the application forms.

Harassment and illegal eviction

If you feel you are being harassed or threatened with eviction by your landlord, get advice and information from us as soon as you can. Your landlord may be committing a criminal offence - know your rights!

Information on private rented housing

We have a lot of information on private rented housing and have good working relationships with many private landlords and letting agents.

Information on Housing Associations

We hold information on many other local social housing providers with homes to rent or to part buy in the area.

If you are eligible for a council home

We can help you find out if you are eligible for a council home, explain how the points scheme works, and how offers and nominations are made to people on the Housing and Transfer Registers.

Conditions and security of your tenancy

We can let you know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.

Relationship breakdown or domestic violence

We can give you advice on your rights if you have had a relationship breakdown. If there has been domestic violence in your relationship, we can put you in touch with support and advice agencies.

Information on other housing organisations and agencies

We have information on co-operatives, supported housing projects, lodgings and shared housing, night shelters and other agencies involved in housing-related issues.

How do I get help?

The Housing Advice Service is open on weekdays between:
8.45am and 5.15pm (4.45pm on Fridays)

Complaints

If you have a complaint about the service you receive, you should first contact your Case Worker. If you are not happy with their response and would like to make a formal complaint, use our complaints procedure as set out in the leaflet called 'Have your Say' available from the Customer Service Centre.

Housing