Housing
Homeless or facing homelessness
On this page you will find information, advice and links from Lewisham Councils website, Shelter and information about local and national organisations.
Advice from Lewisham Council Website
Contact Lewisham on 0808 178 0939 if you are homeless, or likely to be homeless.
They will help you develop a personalised housing and wellbeing plan, which sets out what actions we will both take to prevent or relieve your homelessness.
- assess your housing situation
- work out what your needs are
- give you advice on the next steps to take.
Temporary Accommodation
https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/housing/get-housing-support/temporary-accommodation
Temporary accommodation is interim housing for residents who’ve made a homelessness application to Lewisham Council. Providing you meet the council’s application criteria you will be likely placed in hostel temporary accommodation whilst your homelessness application is being assessed by the council and then moved into private sector leased accommodation as the next stage.
Once your homelessness application is successful you will be able to begin bidding for permanent accommodation through FindYourHome.
Types of temporary accommodation
There are three types of temporary accommodation provided by Lewisham Council
- Nightly Paid – Typically short term bed and breakfast accommodation
- Hostel – Typically kitchen and bedroom units with shared bathroom facilities
- Private Sector Leased – Properties owned by a private landlord but managed by Lewisham Homes on behalf of Lewisham Council.
You can find out more about what to expect from temporary accommodation and how to make a homelessness application here.
Shelter
Read Shelter’s step-by-step guide about how to get support from the Council if you are homeless or facing homelessness within eight weeks. The guide tells you about how we can help: how to ask us for help, homeless assessments, personal housing plans, who qualifies for housing, challenging a decision.
Support in Lewisham
The 999 Club
The 999 Club is near the Lewisham and Southwark college building a 2-minute walk from Deptford Bridge DLR station. If you are rough sleeping or at risk of homelessness and would like support there are a variety of ways you can contact them: at the office on 0208 694 5797 from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, on 0772 725 4603 0r 0772 725 8759 between 9:30 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday, or via email: office@999club.org
Citizens Advice Lewisham
Citizens Advice Lewisham can help with any housing issues that might arise for both private and social tenants. This includes issues with rent arrears, evictions, homelessness or disrepair.
Call our Advice Line on 0800 231 5453
Homeless Link
Services Offered to those who are in housing need or homeless:
- Assessment of entitlement to housing for people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
- Temporary accommodation where a statutory duty may exist.
- General housing advice and information for those in housing need.
Best way to get in touch
Phone or call in to make an appointment.
Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, SE6 4RU
0808 178 0939
Opening times
- Monday: 9am – 3.30pm
- Tuesday: 9am – 3.30pm
- Wednesday: 12.30pm – 3.30pm
- Thursday: 9am – 3.30pm
- Friday: 9am – 3.30pm
Out of hours (after 5pm) emergencies phone 020 8778 0877
National Support
Crisis
They can help to:
- find a safe home and settle in
- learn, get an education and skills training
- find work and apply for jobs
- look after your health and well-being
- volunteer and meet new people
Find out more about what Crisis offer.
Depaul
Youth homelessness in the UK affects hundreds of thousands of people each year. Young people become homeless for a number of reasons but the common causes are family breakdown, bereavement, mental health issues and a history of abuse. Because of this they have complex needs which require a package of bespoke support.
Each young person who arrives at Depaul UK has different challenges which they need to overcome to leave homelessness behind and achieve safety and stability in their lives.
Depaul offer emergency accommodation and longer term housing and accommodation services for young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Single Homeless Project
The Single Homeless Project are a London-wide charity working to prevent homelessness and help vulnerable and socially excluded people to transform their lives.
Social Housing Tenants
On this page you will find information and links to Lewisham Council website, Citizens Advice and Shelter about overcrowding, mould, rent arrears, moving, joining the housing list and evictions.
Information from Lewisham Council for social housing tenants:
Joining the Lewisham housing list
Finding a home
Support for people on the housing register
Paying your rent
You can pay your rent online for Lewisham Homes and Regenter properties, by Direct Debit, on the phone or in person at shops or post offices.
Moving to a different council property
Homefinder UK helps tenants and homeless households move home. It advertises social housing across the country, not just in Lewisham. This means you could find a council home more quickly than you would if you just looked in the Lewisham borough.
Overcrowding and housing allocations
Given the high demand for social housing and limited number of available properties, our new Housing Allocations Policy has increased the number of priority bands from three to four. This aims to ensure that those with greatest need are prioritised.
Evictions
You don’t have to leave your home straight away if you’ve got a notice from your local council or housing association – this is called a ‘notice seeking possession’.
Your landlord has to follow a process before they can evict you and this will take some time – depending on the reason your landlord is using to evict you.
You can’t afford the rent in your council home
If you rent from the council or a housing association you can get help if you’re having problems affording your rent.
If you’ve missed a rent payment you’ll be in ‘arrears’ – this means you owe rent to your council or housing association landlord. It’s important to act quickly because you could be evicted if you get behind with your rent.
Eviction for rent arrears.
If you have rent arrears, your landlord will probably try and evict you. This is called ‘seeking possession’. If they want to seek possession, most landlords must follow a certain procedure. This involves giving you a written notice.
Getting a notice doesn’t always mean you’ll have to leave your home by the date it says. In most cases your landlord still has to get a court order before they can evict you and they can’t apply for a court order until the notice period has run out. The court order is called a ‘possession order’.
Is your home fit to live in?
Landlords have responsibilities to make sure their properties are fit for people to live in. A rented home is unfit to live in when conditions or safety issues are so bad that it’s not reasonable for you to live there.
This could be because the poor conditions:
- affect your health seriously.
- put you at risk of physical harm or injury.
- mean you cannot make full use of your home.
Landlords must make sure your home is fit to live in throughout your tenancy.
Which tenancies are covered?
The rule that a rented home is fit to live in applies to most tenancies regardless of when they started.
This includes if you rent from:
- the council
- a housing association
- a private landlord or letting agent
You were covered straight away if your tenancy started after 19 March 2019 or:
- you signed a new fixed term agreement
- your tenancy became ‘periodic’ (rolling)
Mould
If you rent from a private landlord, you should report any issues with damp and mould to your landlord or your landlord’s managing agent in the first instance. If your landlord fails to deal with the issues, you can contact our Licensing and Housing Enforcement team on 020 8314 6420 or pshe@lewisham.gov.uk.We will liaise with you and your landlord to address any issues with your home. If your landlord fails to comply, we can take enforcement against them.
Repairs
Your landlord is responsible for most repairs in your home. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations.
Their responsibilities include repairs to:
- electrical wiring
- gas pipes and boilers
- heating and hot water
- chimneys and ventilation
- sinks, baths, toilets, pipes and drains.
- the structure and exterior of your home, including walls, stairs and bannisters, roof, external doors and windows.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/landlord_and_tenant_responsibilities_for_repairs
Private Housing Tenants
On this page you will find information and advice available from Lewisham Council, along with links to information on problems with your landlord, mould, repairs and unlawful evictions.
Private Tenants Advice on Lewisham Council Website
Your landlord’s responsibilities
Get housing advice:
Problems with your landlord
Keeping your house warm
Is your Landlord Harassing you?
Harassment is a criminal offence. It includes any action your landlord takes to disrupt your life or make you leave your property.
Your landlord is harassing you if they:
- disconnect your electricity, gas or water.
- repeatedly visit the property unannounced.
- phone you at all hours.
- send intimidating text messages.
- demand money you owe them in a way that causes alarm, distress or humiliation.
- carry out building works in a way that makes life intolerable.
- disturb your peace and comfort.
- let themselves in with a key without your permission.
- take your personal possessions instead of rent.
- interfere with your post.
- treat you in a certain way because of gender, race or sexuality.
You can contact the Rogue Landlords Team
Eviction Information for Private Tenants
You have the right to live safely and peacefully in your home – even if your landlord really wants you to leave. Your landlord can only end your tenancy if you agree to move out or they obtain a court order. If you don’t agree to go and your landlord hasn’t obtained a court order, then trying to make you give up your home may be a crime.
If your landlord has:
- Repeatedly asked you to leave.
- Cut off utilities, such as water, gas, or electricity.
- Stopped you using part of the property you had the use of before or changed the locks.
- Threatened, assaulted, or abused you.
- Made you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
- Physically thrown you or your belongings out.
Get in touch with our Private Sector Intelligence and Enforcement team – call 020 8314 6420 or email rogue.landlords@lewisham.gov.uk. Lewisham can provide you with advice and support, and may be able to negotiate with your landlord and help you stay in your home or prosecute your landlord and help you claim compensation.
Is your home fit to live in?
Landlords have responsibilities to make sure their properties are fit for people to live in. A rented home is unfit to live in when conditions or safety issues are so bad that it’s not reasonable for you to live there.
This could be because the poor conditions:
- affect your health seriously.
- put you at risk of physical harm or injury.
- mean you cannot make full use of your home.
Landlords must make sure your home is fit to live in throughout your tenancy.
Which tenancies are covered?
The rule that a rented home is fit to live in applies to most tenancies regardless of when they started.
This includes if you rent from:
- the council
- a housing association
- a private landlord or letting agent
You were covered straight away if your tenancy started after 19 March 2019 or:
- you signed a new fixed term agreement
- your tenancy became ‘periodic’ (rolling)
Mould
If you rent from a private landlord, you should report any issues with damp and mould to your landlord or your landlord’s managing agent in the first instance. If your landlord fails to deal with the issues, you can contact our Licensing and Housing Enforcement team on 020 8314 6420 or pshe@lewisham.gov.uk. We will liaise with you and your landlord to address any issues with your home. If your landlord fails to comply, we can take enforcement against them.
Repairs
Your landlord is responsible for most repairs in your home. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations.
Their responsibilities include repairs to:
- electrical wiring
- gas pipes and boilers
- heating and hot water
- chimneys and ventilation
- sinks, baths, toilets, pipes and drains.
- the structure and exterior of your home, including walls, stairs and bannisters, roof, external doors and windows.
Find out more about who is responsible and how to report repairs
Worried about eviction if you report repairs?
Some private landlords take steps to evict tenants who ask for repairs.
This is called a revenge eviction.Sometimes you can stop a revenge eviction.
Your landlord must follow the legal process. A section 21 eviction can take a few months.
Advice guides and letter templates for private tenants and people looking for a home through a private landlord or letting agent.
More information information can be found on these websites
Domestic Abuse Housing Advice
If you are thinking about ending an abusive relationship and concerned about what will happen to your home, it’s important to get up to date advice.
Your legal rights to your home will depend upon the type of housing, the legal status of your relationship and whether or not you have children, so getting legal advice is really important.
Find out more by downloading this handbook
Advice from Shelter about Homelessness because of Domestic Abuse
Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity, have an advice line on 0808 800 4444 and will be able to talk you through your options. It’s also a good idea to speak to your local council. They must look into what they can do to either keep you safe in your home or find you somewhere safe for you to live.
Domestic abuse includes:
- physical or sexual abuse
- violent or threatening behaviour
- psychological or emotional abuse
- controlling or coercive behaviour
- financial abuse
Domestic abuse is not always physical violence.
Women’s Aid explains more about recognising domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse is usually from a partner or ex partner. It could also be carried out by other family members.
You do not have to live in the same home for it to be domestic abuse.
No Recourse to Public Funds Housing Advice
A person who is subject to the ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) condition, or who does not have any current immigration permission, will not be eligible for homelessness assistance or a housing allocation.
On this page you will find links to Citizens Advice, the No Recourse to Public Finds Network and information for social workers and professions on Lewisham Council’s website.
If the council says you’re not ‘eligible’ for social housing because of your immigration status you might not be able to apply.
This includes if:
- you’re seeking asylum or you’ve been told you can’t stay in the UK
- you have ‘no recourse to public funds’
- you’re a British citizen but you’re not ‘habitually resident’ in the UK – read more about habitual residence
If your immigration status has changed since your application and you think you should be added to the waiting list, it’s usually best to start a new housing application
Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you need help with your immigration status – they could refer you to an immigration specialist to get more help.
The No Recourse to Public Funds Network has more information about Housing and Benefits on their website
Shelter has information on claiming benefits
Information for social workers and professionals about no recourse to public funds, and Lewisham Council’s procedures, duties and responsibilities.
Home Owner Housing Advice
On this page you will find information for homeowners about emergency loans, planning, rubbish and recycling and grants and loans from Lewisham Council website and Citizens Advice.
How to sort out your mortgage problems
If you’re having problems paying your mortgage, you must take action quickly to stop yourself from falling into debt. If you get into debt and your lender thinks you’re not dealing with the problem, they will take action through the courts. This could lead to you losing your home. Find out about some of the options you may have for sorting out your mortgage problems and how to deal with your lender.
Remember that you can lose your home if you don’t keep up repayments on your mortgage.
You may also find useful information on our Cost of Living website page
You can information about how to access local housing support services Lewisham Council - Get housing support