The council’s statutory obligations to you

If you are homeless, the Council may or may not have a duty to provide you with housing. However, in all circumstances the Homeless Persons Unit will offer advice and assistance on your situation.

The council’s statutory duties are set out in Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homeless Act 2002. The council follows the Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities.

What to do if you are homeless…

• If you are homeless or threatened with being homeless you should contact the Council's Homeless Persons'  Unit.
• We aim to carry out an initial assessment of your application on the day you apply or the first working day if the application was made out of office hours. You may be invited to attend an interview. The Homeless Persons' Unit will complete their enquiries as quickly as possible.
• In all cases the council will provide you with advice and assistance on your housing circumstances whether or not there is a statutory duty to secure temporary accommodation for you.

What is involved in a homelessness investigation?

All homelessness applications are carefully considered and there are five main enquiries which will be made:

1. Are you eligible for assistance under the Act?
2. Are you homeless or threatened with homelessness within 28 days?
3. Do you fall into a priority need category?
4. Have you become homeless or threatened with homelessness intentionally?
5. Do you have a local connection within the Hertsmere Borough?

If the council is satisfied that you are eligible for assistance, homeless, in priority need and have not become homeless intentionally it has a duty in law to ensure that temporary accommodation is made available.

If you have a local connection to Hertsmere, it is this council which will secure the accommodation. However, if you do not have a local connection with Hertsmere but meet the enquiries set out above you will be referred to the area with which you do have a local connection.

I have been told the council has a duty to me. What does this mean?

If the council has a duty to you, it will to help secure temporary accommodation for you. However, for some applicants, the council may meet its obligations by assisting with securing private rented accommodation or by providing appropriate advice and assistance.

The council notifies you in writing of its decision with full reasons. The council aims to issue written decisions within three working days of completion of the enquiries.

At this point you may be asked to complete an application for Hertsmere’s Housing Register. No one can be considered for permanent accommodation unless they are on the register. Allocations in each case will be made according to housing need.

I am not happy with the decision that the council has made.

If you are unhappy with the decision taken on your application, you have a right to review within 21days of being notified of the decision. It would be advisable to put your request in writing and indicate the grounds for requesting the review

Homeless Department,
Hertsmere Borough Council,
Civic Offices,
Elstree Way,
Borehamwood,
Herts,
WD6 1WA

Hertsmere Borough Council's Complaints Procedure

Hertsmere Borough Council is committed to providing a high level of service. If however, you remain unhappy please inform us using our complaints procedure.