When a homeless applicant is found to be eligible, the council must follow its statutory housing duties. These duties include prevention duty, relief duty, and main housing duty and are explained below. For further information, see the Homelessness Code of Guidance.
If a person is eligible and at risk of homelessness within 56 days, the council must provide advice and take reasonable steps to help prevent them from becoming homeless during that period.
If a person is eligible and already homeless, the council must take reasonable steps to help them secure accommodation. This may include:
The relief duty normally lasts for up to 56 days. During this time, the council must try to help the person secure accommodation that is expected to be available for at least six months.
If a person is:
the council must provide temporary accommodation.
The council can end this duty by making an allocation of social housing, or helping the person secure suitable accommodation from another source, such as a housing association or private landlord. See our page on allocation of social housing for more information.
The categories of people who have a priority need are set out in Chapter 8 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance.
A person may have priority need if they:
A person may be considered vulnerable if they are:
A council may decide that a person is intentionally homeless if their homelessness is the result of their deliberate actions or omissions.
If a person is found to be intentionally homeless, the council may have limited duties to assist them.
For more information, see Chapter 9 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance.
Page updated: 28 April 2026
