Housing
What do you need help with?
If you’re homeless or could become homeless in the next two months you can ask Wandsworth Council for help. You can do this by completing their housing options assessment form online. If you’re at immediate risk of domestic violence or abuse and don’t have a safe place to stay tonight you don’t have to complete this form, you can use the alternative contact details in the link above.
When you apply as homeless the support the council provide will depend on your circumstances. The council don’t have to give everyone housing and if you aren’t vulnerable they’re more likely to give you advice about keeping your home or help you look for a private tenancy. Shelter have a guide to getting help from the council that explains how the process works and who gets priority for housing.
If you’re homeless tonight and the council won’t give you emergency or temporary accommodation you may be able to find a shelter place at Ace of Clubs or Glass Door. The Shelter emergency helpline (0808 800 4444) is open 365 days a year and can give you information about night shelters and emergency housing issues.
Landlords generally have to follow a certain procedure in order to evict you. Your rights will depend on the type of tenancy you have, which you can check using Shelter’s tenancy rights checker.
Citizens Advice have a guide to eviction for rent arrears. In most cases you don’t have to leave your home before your landlord gets a court order. This means you may have time to resolve the issue, even if it’s already gone to court.
If court proceedings have started you may be able to get free advice from a solicitor. This will depend on whether you’re eligible for legal aid. You can check your entitlement to legal aid online or by calling Civil Legal Advice, who can also advise you about your situation.
If you can’t get legal aid or afford a solicitor you should still attend any court hearing about your eviction. If you explain to the judge why you’re in arrears they may decide that it isn’t appropriate to evict you. You may also be able to get legal advice from a duty solicitor on the day of the hearing – arrive early and speak to a court clerk about this.
There’s a limited supply of social housing in London and councils decide who gets priority. Shelter have a guide to who gets priority and we’ve published detailed guidance about applying to Wandsworth Council for social housing.
If you qualify for the waiting list but are given low priority, you may never be offered a home. Wandsworth Council say that even residents with high priority may wait several years to be housed.
If your circumstances have changed since you applied for housing, or the council aren’t aware of relevant information, you should speak to your allocated caseworker.
In the housing section of the Wandsworth Council website you can find information about:
- their allocations policy
- the process for applying for housing
- wait times and priority
- alternatives such as renting privately.
If the council offer you long-term housing it must meet certain criteria and be suitable for you.
However, if you refuse an offer of housing, even if it’s unsuitable, you put yourself at risk of homelessness.
You should therefore accept the offer but ask for a review within 21 days. Shelter have a guide to requesting a review, which includes a template letter, but you may also be eligible for free legal advice if you’re on a low income. Civil Legal Advice can help you check this and give you housing advice if you qualify.
Information and self-help resources
Information from Citizens Advice about:
- how to go about renting or buying a home
- handling problems with your landlord
- eviction and repossession
- your rights as a tenant.
Information and guides about housing and homelessness issues. Helpline can offer advice about urgent issues.
Information and guidance about residential leasehold, park home law and fire safety. Also provide a lease extension calculator.
Organisations that can help
Advice, support and legal services to help with housing crisis, bad housing or homelessness. Service is for London residents only and may be easier to reach than Shelter’s national helpline.
Phone (under 25 years old): 0330 053 6091 (read about call charges)
Phone (25 or older): 0344 515 1540 (read about call charges)
Open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 6pm
england.shelter.org.uk/get_help/local_services/london
National helpline for people with urgent housing issues.
Phone: 0808 800 4444 (read about call charges)
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8am
Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5pm
england.shelter.org.uk
Advice about housing issues offered by a combination of legal aid, free advice surgeries and the Housing Court Duty Scheme.
Phone: 0208 767 2777 (read about call charges)
Open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm
https://swllc.org/
Advice about housing issues for people who qualify for legal aid.
Phone: 0207 947 7484 (read about call charges)
www.rcjadvice.org.uk/housing/housing-legal-aid
Free, confidential advice for people who qualify for legal aid. CLA provide free interpretation for people who don’t speak English and can book a BSL interpreter if you’re deaf or hard of hearing.
Phone: 0345 345 4345 (read about call charges)
Minicom: 0345 609 6677
Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm
Saturday, 9am to 12:30pm
www.gov.uk/civil-legal-advice
Independent charity providing NHS patients in South West London with specialist advice on housing, community care, debt and welfare benefits.
Phone: 0208 767 6884 (read about call charges)
Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm
www.springfieldlawcentre.org.uk
Wandsworth Council Environmental Health
To report disrepair and infestations, particularly in privately rented accommodation.
Phone: 0208 871 6127 (option 7) (read about call charges)
Open Monday to Friday, 1pm to 5pm
www.wandsworth.gov.uk
Free advice on all party wall and boundary matters. Also provide a directory of Party Wall Surveyor members and Surveyors who can mediate disputes.
Phone: 01424 883 300 (read about call charges).
www.fpws.org.uk
Free advice about leasehold and fire safety issues offered via phone appointments and a written advice service.
Phone: 020 7832 2500 (read about call charges)
www.lease-advice.org
November to April Winter Shelter nights in churches across Lambeth and Southwark.
Phone: 0207 407 5623 (read about call charges)
www.robes.org.uk
Open-access network of emergency winter shelters and support services for men and women affected by homelessness. November to April Winter Shelter nights available in churches across Wandsworth.
Phone: 0208 016 6838 (read about call charges).
www.glassdoor.org.uk
Support for people experiencing homelessness in South-West London, including rough sleeping reporting and outreach services.
Phone: 0208 404 1481 (read about call charges)
Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
www.spearlondon.org
Emergency overnight accommodation for young people (16 to 25) who are facing a night on the streets or sleeping in an unsafe place.
Phone: 0207 9391 234, 0207 9391 226 or 0207 9391 240 (read about call charges)
Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm
www.nightstop.org.uk
Shelter, food, clothing, laundry services and showers for people in need.
Phone: 020 7720 2811 or 020 7720 0178 (read about call charges)
Open Monday to Friday 12pm to 4pm
St Alphonsus Road
London
SW4 7AS.
www.aceofclubs.org.uk
Food, clothing, showers, healthcare and, for longer terms clients, support, advice and referrals to other services. Also provides a womens-only space for vulnerable women of all ages.
Phone: 0208 696 0943 (read about call charges).
www.spires.org.uk
Still need help?
Find out how to contact us if you haven’t been able to resolve your problem using the information above.
Please bear in mind that we are a local charity and demand for our services is high. You may have to wait to speak to one of our team and we can’t offer everyone an appointment with an adviser.
