Where can I get advice and information if I have problems with housing?
The Highland Council has a duty to provide housing advice and information free of charge. Ask at any Service Point or Housing Office. You may also wish to contact an independent advice agency such as a Citizen’s Advice Bureau or Shelter. You can also phone 0808 800 4444, the Shelter advice phone line.
The Highland Council can give advice and assistance with the following:
- Housing including Council housing, housing associations, private renting and home ownership.
- Emergency/temporary housing (and women’s aid refuges).
- Assessing your legal rights under homelessness law.
- Getting support to stay in your home or to move.
- Referring you to specialist services for further advice and help, e.g. Money Advice.
- Rent, including rent arrears and housing benefit.
This advice and information might help you find housing quickly and stop you from becoming homeless
Back to Top
What does "homeless" and "threatened with homelessness" mean?
The laws about homelessness are very complicated but "homeless" broadly means having no housing that is reasonable for you and the people who normally live with you, to carry on living in. You are "threatened with homelessness" if you are likely to become homeless within the next 2 months, for example, if you have been taken to Court by your landlord and the Court has said you must leave your home within 2 months.
Back to Top
What do I do if I’m homeless or think I will become homeless?
Immediately you have housing difficulties, wherever you are living at the time, please contact your nearest Area Housing Office for help and advice as soon as possible. This can help to avoid a crisis. We may be able to prevent you becoming homeless.
If you become homeless when our offices are shut (5.00pm – 9.00am week days, weekends or holiday times, e.g. Christmas or Easter), call the Council's emergency number 0845 7002005.
If you have nowhere to stay contact your nearest Housing Office and we will speak to you immediately. If you think you may become homeless in the future, call your local Housing Office and make an appointment to speak to an Accommodation/Housing Officer.
At this meeting we will ask you some questions and fill out a homeless application form. This helps us to decide whether you are homeless and what help we can give you.
We will also give you advice and information which might stop you from becoming homeless. For example, you can get money advice if you are having trouble paying your mortgage or rent, advice on your rights if you are a tenant or advice if you are separating from your partner.
You may also want to seek independent advice from one of the agencies listed later in this leaflet.
Don’t delay in contacting the Council for help – ask at your local Service Point or Housing Office to arrange an appointment.
If you have nowhere to stay, the Council will normally arrange temporary accommodation for you, at least for a period of time.
Back to Top
What happens if the Council decides that I am homeless?
The Highland Council has certain legal duties towards people who are or who may become homeless. If we have decided that you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, we then have to investigate and decide the following:
- Whether you are in what is called "priority need".
- whether you are homeless intentionally.
- Whether you have a "local connection" to the area.
If we decide that you are either not in "priority need", or are "intentionally homeless" or that you do not have a "local connection", we will give you advice, information and assistance to help you find housing. We will also normally give you temporary housing for a limited period of time. This is to give you time to find yourself alternative housing.
If we decide that you are in ‘priority need’, ‘unintentionally homeless’ and have a ‘local connection’, we have a duty to house you permanently. We will give your application additional housing need points. We will give you our decision in writing.
Back to Top
What is meant by being in "priority need"?
You (or someone in your household) are in priority need if:
- You are pregnant.
- You have dependent children (this includes foster children, step children and adopted children) living with you. Dependent children are those under 16, or those aged 16-18 who are still in full-time education or training.
- You are homeless because of an emergency, such as a fire, flood or other disaster.
- You are 16 or 17 years old.
- You are aged 18 to 20 and were in care at the time you left school (or are aged between 21 and 24 and were looked after in care or fostered between the ages of 16 to 18) or are at risk of being exploited financially or sexually, or are at risk due to the serious misuse of drugs or alcohol.
- You are at risk of violence or harassment because of your religion, sexuality, race, colour or ethnic or national origin.
- You are at risk of domestic abuse.
- You are vulnerable and therefore less able to take care of yourself because you are elderly, disabled, have a mental illness or personality disorder, have learning difficulties, have a chronic illness or have had a miscarriage or an abortion.
- The Highland Council will assess all young people under 21 years of age as vulnerable and therefore in priority need.
- The Highland Council will assess everyone under the age of 25 as vulnerable and therefore in priority need if they have been looked after in care or fostered at any time during their life.
- The Highland Council will consider applicants who have several low level reasons for being homeless as being in priority need under the category of vulnerable for "other special reasons". This may include situations where, for example, an applicant has a low medical need and has experienced repeat homelessness.
You may also be in priority need if you are vulnerable and are:
- A person who has been a member of the armed forces.
- A person who has just left hospital.
- A person who has served a prison sentence.
- Any other special reason.
If you are homeless and in priority need, we will then decide whether you are "intentionally homeless" and whether you have a "local connection" to the Highland area.
Back to Top
How does the Council decide whether I have made myself deliberately homeless?
If we think that you are homeless because of something you have or have not done, we may say that you have made yourself homeless "intentionally". This means that even if you are homeless and in priority need, we do not have a legal duty to find you another home.
We will give you advice, information and assistance to help you find housing. We will also normally give you temporary housing for a limited period of time. This is to give you time to find alternative housing yourself.
We may decide that you have made yourself homeless deliberately if any of the following apply to you
- If you have been evicted for not paying your rent or mortgage even though you could afford to do so.
- If you choose to sell your home when there was no risk of losing it.
- If you voluntarily gave up suitable accommodation either here or abroad.
- If you were evicted for anti social behaviour, for example, harassment.
This is not a complete list of the circumstances when we may decide that you have made yourself homeless intentionally. We consider each case separately.
Back to Top
How does the Council decide if I have a local connection?
If we decide that you are homeless, in priority need and you have not made yourself homeless intentionally, we then have to decide whether you have a "local connection" with the Highland area.
If you do not have a connection with the Highlands but have a connection to another Council area in Britain, then your homeless application will be referred to that Council so that they can deal with your homeless application.
If you do not have a local connection with any Council area in Britain, then we will help you.
You will have a local connection with the Highlands if any of the following apply to you or anyone who lives with you:
- Have lived in Highland for at least the last six of the last twelve months or three out of the last five years. This does not include stays in hospitals or prison in the Highlands.
- Have a job in the Highlands .
- Have close relative(s) you want to live near.
If there are other special circumstances which means you need to live in the Highlands, we may decide that you have a local connection.
If you cannot live in the area your current home is in because you are at risk from domestic violence, we will not send you back there.
Back to Top
When I meet with the housing officer to talk about my homeless application, what sort of questions will I be asked?
We need to ask you a number of questions and fill out an in-depth Homeless Assessment form. This helps us to assess your application and work out how we can help you. The officer you are meeting with will complete it on your behalf and ask you to check it over before signing it. You will be asked about your previous address(es), why you can’t live there any more, how you came to be homeless, your family circumstances, whether you have any medical conditions, etc. You may also be asked to provide financial information if, for example, you have lost housing as a result of mortgage or rent arrears.
Back to Top
What should I take with me to this meeting?
Please take any letters or documents which relate to your homelessness, to your health or to your financial circumstances to the meeting. This will help the Accommodation/Housing Officer to make a decision about your case more quickly.
Back to Top
Will the information I provide be kept confidential?
Yes, any information you provide will remain confidential within the Council. It will only be used to assess your homelessness and housing application within the terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 as amended by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, and the Homelessness, etc (Scotland) Act 2004 - the legislation which deals with homelessness.
Back to Top
Can I bring a friend to this meeting?
Yes, you can bring a relative, friend, advisor or other representative. You can also choose to be interviewed by a male or female Accommodation/Housing Officer.
Back to Top
Can the Council help me keep my home if I think I might lose it?
Yes, we want to prevent you becoming homeless. We will help you find out if there are ways for you to keep your home.
Back to Top
How long will it take for the Council to rehouse me if I am made homeless?
Our investigation to decide how we can help you normally won’t take longer than 28 days. This depends however on whether we need to get other information. For example, we may need to get information from another local authority or organisation such as report on your tenancies with other landlords, or police reports, etc.
We need to establish whether you are:
- Homeless.
- In priority need.
- Unintentionally homeless.
- Have a connection with the Highland area.
We have a duty to house you permanently if we decide that you are in "priority need", "unintentionally homeless" and have a "local connection". We will write to you giving you our decision. If this is the case your housing application will be given priority and we will rehouse you as soon as we can. It is difficult to give an exact timescale on how long this might take as it depends on how many houses we have to allocate.
If we find that you are either not in "priority need", or are "intentionally homeless" or that you do not have a "local connection", we will provide you with temporary accommodation for a period of time and will give you advice and assistance to help you find alternative accommodation for yourself.
Back to Top
What happens if I don’t agree with the decisions you have made?
If we make any decision that you disagree with, you can ask us to review it. You must write to the Director of Housing within 21 days of receiving the letter telling you about our decision on your homeless application. In this letter you should explain why you think our decision is wrong. The review will be carried out by the Director of Housing, who will give his decision in writing as quickly as possible.
If you disagree with the Director’s review of the decision, you can ask for a further review. Again you must give a reason why you think the decision is wrong. This review will be carried out by a panel of local Councillors. If you want, you can go to this review yourself to explain why you think our decision is wrong. You can bring someone along to this meeting to help you. The panel will advise you of their decision in writing as soon as possible.
If you are still unhappy with the decision you can request a Judicial Review of your case. Please note you have to ask your own solicitor to do this.
Organisations such as Shelter, Citizens Advice Bureau or a solicitor can give you help and information with your review. The process will be explained to you at each stage of review. We will normally provide you with temporary housing while you wait for the review of the decision.
Back to Top
If I have nowhere to stay, will you find me somewhere to live?
Yes, normally we will arrange temporary accommodation for you. If you are in priority need, are unintentionally homeless and have a local connection, we will provide temporary accommodation until we can give you a reasonable offer of housing.
If you aren’t in priority need we will provide you with temporary accommodation for a period of time and advice and assistance to help you to find alternative accommodation yourself.
Back to Top
Where is this temporary accommodation likely to be?
We will do our best to provide accommodation in an area suitable to you. However as temporary accommodation is very limited, this isn’t always possible.
Back to Top
If my temporary accommodation is not in the area I come from where can I find out about local schools, medical services, etc?
Housing staff will be able to give you a contact name in Education, Culture and Leisure Services where you will be able to get information about schools in the area. They will also be able to give you contact information for health services in the area.
Local advice organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau are also able to give you help, advice and information. Information about other services for people who are experiencing homelessness can also be found in the directory called Streetwise Highland. This is available electronically by logging on to http://www.streetwise-highland.org/ or there are paper copies available to view at Service Points and Housing Offices.
Back to Top
What will temporary accommodation cost?
The charge for your temporary accommodation will depend on the type of housing you are given. Normally, it includes a rent charge and a service charge to cover the cost of providing furniture, the TV license and caretaking, etc. You will normally be responsible for paying for your Council Tax, electricity and gas.
Back to Top
How will I pay the rent for my temporary accommodation?
If you are unemployed or on a low income you may be entitled to Housing Benefit to cover the cost of your temporary housing. If Housing Benefit does not cover all the rent and other costs, you will be expected to pay some of charges.
To claim Housing Benefit you must fill in a Housing Benefit form and provide all necessary paper work as soon as possible to process your claim. Council staff are available to help you if you need assistance – just ask.
You can phone the Housing Benefit Office on Freephone 0800 393811 for advice and a Housing Benefit application form or go along to your nearest Service Point.
Back to Top
What will happen to my furniture?
We will help you find storage for your furniture and belongings. There is likely to be a charge for this.
Back to Top
Can I take my dog/cat into the temporary accommodation you give me?
The Council has no specific legal duties towards pets. Councils do not normally arrange kennelling or pay for it.
We may allow pets into some types of temporary accommodation but don’t allow pets into hostel type accommodation or bed and breakfast accommodation.
If you are homeless and you are unable to take your pets into your temporary accommodation, you should try to get friends or family to look after them for you.
Back to Top
I have had to leave all my belongings in my old home and I am having to start again, is there any help I can get?
There are a number of organisations that we can make contact with to help you. These include local furniture supply and recycling projects. We will support you through this difficult time and give you advice about help you can get.
Back to Top
My partner has been violent towards me, I’ve had enough, can the Council help me?
Yes. Contact your nearest Housing Office immediately during office hours. If you have to leave your home outwith office hours (5.00pm – 9.00am week days or weekends or holiday times, e.g. Christmas or Easter), use our emergency line 0845 7002005. We have a duty to help you if it is likely that staying in your home will lead to domestic violence being threatened or committed against you or someone living with you.
Back to Top
I would like to get independent information and advice from an organisation that isn’t the Council. Where can I get this from?
There are a number of organisations that can help you by giving you advice about your situation or putting you in touch with others who can provide you with practical help and support.
Shelter
Shelter Scotland
Scotia Bank House
4th Floor
6 South Charlotte Street
EDINBURGH
Tel: 0131 473 7170
Shelterline Scotland: 0808 800 4444
Highland Advice and Information Network (HAIN)
Central Support
57 Church Street
INVERNESS
IV1 1DR
Tel: 01463 714863/712275
Citizens Advice Bureau/Independent Advice Bureaux
Alness
Ross & Cromarty CAB
4 Novar Road
ALNESS
IV17 0QG
Tel: (01349) 883333
Opening Hours: Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 10-2
Aviemore
Community Advice & Information Service
2 Inverewe
Grampian Road
AVIEMORE
PH22 1RH
Tel: (01479) 810919
Opening Hours: Mon 6-7 (appointments), Tues 10-12, Wed/Thurs 2-4
Wade Centre, Kingussie: Tues 2-3
Lesser Hall, Newtonmore: Tues 10-11.30
Grantown on Spey: Mon & Wed 2-3
Dingwall
Ross & Cromarty CAB
4 Church Street
Dingwall
IV15 9SB
Tel: 01349 864850
Opening Hours: Tues/Wed/Fri 10-2
Fort William
Lochaber CAB
Dudley Road
FORT WILLIAM
PH33 6JB
Tel: (01397) 700610
Opening Hours: Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 10-2, Wed 4-6
Church of Scotland Vestry, Kinlochleven: 2nd and 4th Tues in every month 10.20-1.30
Fisherman's Mission, Mallaig: First Wed in month 10.30-3.30
Golspie
East Sutherland Village Advisory Service
Alba
Main Street
GOLSPIE
KW10 6TG
Tel: (01408) 633000
Opening Hours:
Vol Group Offices, Golspie: Mon 2.30-4.30
Bradbury Centre, Bonar Bridge: Tues 10-12
Library, Brora: Tues 2-4.30
Day Centre, Helmsdale: Wed 10.30-12.30
Service Point, Lairg: Thurs 2.30-4.30
Carnegie Building, Dornoch: Fri 10.30-12.30
Library, Brora: Fri 10-12.15
Inverness
Inverness CAB
103 Academy Street
INVERNESS
IV1 1LX
Tel: (01463) 235345
Opening Hours: Mon/Wed/Thurs 10-3, Tues/Fri 10-1
Raigmore CAB
Raigmore Hospital
Old Perth Road
INVERNESS
IV2 3UJ
Tel: (01463) 704000, Ext 6014
Opening Hours: Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 10-4.30, Wed 10-4.30, 6-8
Kinlochbervie
North West Sutherland Advice & Information Service
Office 3
Harbour Offices
KINLOCHBERVIE
IV27 4RR
Tel: (01971) 521730
Opening Hours: Mon/Wed 1-3, Tues/Thurs 10-12
Nairn
Nairn CAB
6 High Street
NAIRN
IV12 4BJ
Tel: (01667) 456677
Opening Hours: Mon/Tues/Wed/Fri 10-1, Thurs 2-4, 5.30-7.30
Portree
Skye & Lochalsh CAB
The Green
PORTREE
Isle of Skye
IV51 9BT
Tel: (01478) 612032
Opening Hours: Mon/Tues 10-1, 2-4.30, Wed/Fri 10-1
Thurso
Caithness CAB
7A Brabster Street
THURSO
KW14 7AP
Tel: (01847) 894243
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10-2
Wick
Wick CAB
123 High Street
WICK
KW1 4LR
Tel: (01955) 605989
Opening Hours: Tues/Wed/Thurs 10-2
Day Care Centre, Tongue: Last Wed in month 10-12
NTC, Bettyhill: Last Wed in month 12.30-1.30
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Tel: 0800 027 1234
Back to Top