Housing advice
For general information, please telephone 01252 774420 for information on private renting or renting through the Council’s Housing Register; alternatively, you can email housing@hart.gov.uk and they will put you in touch with the relevant team.
Engagement and Support (Housing Options) team
Our Engagement and Support Team can provide you with information, assistance and advice to help you to resolve your housing situation if you are at risk of homelessness. Please complete a housing advice form. If you would like to talk to our Engagement and Support officers about your current housing situation please telephone 01252 774239 or email housing@hart.gov.uk
Make a Homelessness Referral (Duty to Refer)
This duty requires specified public authorities from 1 October 2018 to notify a Housing authority of service users they consider may be homeless or threatened with homelessness (it is likely they will become homeless within 56 days). The public authorities which are subject to the duty to refer are specified in the Homelessness (Review Procedure) Regulations 2018.
The public services included in the duty are:
- Prisons
- Youth Offender Institutions
- Secure Training Centres
- Secure Colleges
- Youth Offending Teams
- Emergency Departments
- Jobcentre Plus
- Social Service Authorities
- Secretary of State for Defence
- Urgent Treatment Centres
- Hospitals providing inpatient care
- Probation Services (including community rehabilitation companies)
Before making a referral, a public authority must:
- Have consent from the individual before making the referral
- Allow the individual to identify the housing authority in England they would like the referral to be sent to
- Have consent from the individual to be able to supply their contact details so the housing authority are able to contact them regarding the referral.
How to make a Homelessness Referral
Referrals can be made by completing the Hampshire Homelessness Referral Form. You can request a copy of our Hampshire Homelessness Referral Protocol by emailing us a dutytorefer@hart.gov.uk.
If you are unable to complete an application form or would like further advice and or information, please email dutytorefer@hart.gov.uk or telephone 01252 774239 to speak to one of the Engagement and Support Officers ..
Homelessness
If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, it is important that you contact us immediately. Our Engagement and Support team has a duty to work with people if they are threatened with homelessness within 56 days. This means that you should contact us if you think your home may be at risk as early as possible and we will work with you to try and prevent you becoming homeless.
We will talk to you about your circumstances and give you advice on what housing options are available to you so you can work towards resolving issues that are threatening your housing situation. If you are not homeless today, please complete a housing advise form. During office hours please telephone the Engagement and Support team on 01252 774239 or email housing@hart.gov.uk for further information.
If you are in immediate need of emergency accommodation outside of office hours you should telephone 01252 622122.
In Hart, we have a No First Night Out approach to rough sleeping which means we work in partnership with other key services to identify anyone new to the streets and act quickly to make contact and provide support. This means that anyone finding themselves with nowhere to sleep for one night will be offered help and support by the Housing Service and should not have to spend a second night rough sleeping. If you are a member of the public, you can also help by reporting anyone you suspect might be sleeping rough. You can do this by:
- Telephoning our Engagement and Support team during office hours on 01252 774239 or email housing@hart.gov.uk.
- If you are concerned about a person who you think may be sleeping rough outside of office hours, you can contact Housing Services on telephone 01252 622122.
You can also report a rough sleeper through the Streetlink website or telephone 0300 500 0914 and this information will be reported
to the relevant local authority.
If you have concerns about the welfare and safety of an individual, especially if you are reporting them as a rough sleeper outside of office hours, then you should also inform the police on telephone 101.
During certain times of the year, Hart operates a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) to ensure that no one sleeps rough within the district during times of extreme weather.
We have a number of leaflets available to you:
- Homelessness Reduction Act - how we work with you
- How to seek a review of our decisions on homelessness
- Homelessness Guide for People with Mental Health Needs
- Homelessness Guide for People Leaving Hospital
- Homelessness Guide for People Leaving Custody
- Homelessness Guide for Care Leavers
- Homelessness Guide for Members of the Armed Forces
You can also find information on websites such as Gov.uk, Citizens Advice and Shelter.
Domestic abuse
Domestic Abuse is defined as controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence. It is usually committed by a partner or ex-partner but can also be committed by a family member. It can happen to both men and women, and children are often affected too. There are many forms of domestic abuse and the behaviour of the perpetrator is designed to make a person feel frightened, isolated, exploited and dependent. If you feel you are experiencing domestic abuse help is available.
Our Engagement and Support Team can offer advice on support services and options for alternative accommodation if you feel you need to leave your home because you are being abused by someone you are living with. The team can also make a referral to ensure your home is secure if the perpetrator is no longer living at the property. You can contact the Engagement and Support Team on telephone 01252 774239 or email housing@hart.gov.uk.
If you are in immediate danger always telephone 999.
For further advice and support the following services are available:
- Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service Telephone 03300 165112
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline (female victims) Telephone 0808 2000 247
- Women’s Aid (female victims)
- Men's Advice Line (male victims) Telephone 0808 8010 327
- ManKind Initiative (male victims) Telephone 01823 334244
- National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline Telephone 0800 999 5428
- Karma Nirvana (Honour-based violence and forced marriage Helpline) Telephone 0800 5999 247
- Hourglass (Action on elder abuse) Telephone 0808 808 8141
- Samaritans Telephone 116 123
People who are worried about their behaviour towards their partner, ex-partner or family member can also receive help and support. If you would like to change your behaviour the following organisations will be able to help.
- The Hampton Trust Telephone 02380 009898
- Respect Phoneline Telephone 0808 8024040
Leaflet:
Housing Register
Hart District Council does not own any council properties but we do provide a housing register for people who want a home from one of the Housing Associations in the Hart District. You can apply to join the register by completing our online form.
There is a severe shortage of social housing in the District so it is likely you will have to wait a long time to be offered a property. The average waiting times will give you an idea of how long people wait.
Our Allocations Policy will show you how we prioritise Housing Register applications. If you think you might be eligible for a medical assessment then you can complete the relevant section on your online application form please telephone 01252 774420 or email housing@hart.gov.uk for more information.
Mortgage advice
If you are finding it hard to pay your mortgage or facing repossession and have not been able to resolve the situation with your landlord or mortgage lender, or just need some initial advice, you can contact the Engagement and Support Team on 01252 774239 or email them at housing@hart.gov.uk. Please read our guide Repossession: A 10 Step Guide to keeping your home for more information.
The Websites listed also have information and guidance:
Private Renting
If you are living in a private rented property the GOV.UK website has lots of information to assist you with queries including repairs, arrears and disputes.
If you are looking for private rented accommodation you could try looking for properties through:
- Your local estate agents
- Your local newspapers
- Websites such as Rightmove, Zoopla, Spareroom, Gumtree, Property Wide and Open Rent
These websites are for information only and not a recommendation from the Council.
If you are a tenant or landlord and would like information and advice on your rights and responsibilities, how to deal with disagreements and fair rents, you may find the following websites useful:
- GOV.UK/Housing
- Housing Ombudsman service
- Valuation Office agency
- Landlords can also visit the National Residential Landlords Association
The Rent Bond Scheme
If you need to move and you are unable to raise your own deposit you may be eligible for assistance through the Council’s Rent Bond Scheme.
For further information please contact the Engagement and Support team on telephone 01252 774239 or email housing@hart.gov.uk.
Please read our leaflet Information for Applicants on the Rent Bond Scheme for more information.
If you are a landlord interested in renting out a property or would like some information about the Rent Bond Scheme, please contact our Engagement and Support team on 01252 774239 or email rentdeposit@hart.gov.uk.
Please read our leaflet Information for Landlords on the Rent Bond Scheme for more information.
EU Settlement Scheme
On 30 March 2019 the UK Government launched the EU Settlement Scheme. More information can be found on the GOV.UK website.
- EU Settlement Scheme guidance
- Access assisted digital support
- ID document scanner locations
- Sign up to receive EU Citizen Email Alerts from the Home Office
- Sign up to receive the Community Bulletin
- European Temporary Leave to Remain Guidance
Armed Forces Personnel
Haig Housing is the leading UK provider of rental housing for ex-Service people.
Help to Buy South has information on shared ownership schemes for both serving and ex service people.
Need some support?
Connect to Support Hampshire has links to organisations that can help with a wide range of money-related issues including debt, emergency food and keeping your home warm.
Worrying about money can make your mental health worse. Our Mental Health and Wellbeing page has links to useful websites, Apps, helplines, and local support services for children, young people and adults. If you can’t find what you need, you could try the Mental Wellbeing Hampshire website.
Hart Employment and Skills Hub offers tailored support to help Hart residents into work or training.
