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Date updated: 11/01/2023

In April 2018, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 came into effect. This means that local authorities now have additional statutory duties to people that are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days. If you become homeless or believe that you are threatened with homelessness, you are entitled to make a request at your local housing authority for a homeless application.

Following your request to make a homeless application, we will carry out an assessment of your situation to establish that you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, and eligible for housing assistance. This assessment will also determine if we owe you a Prevention duty or a Relief duty, and if we have reason to believe that you have a priority need for emergency interim accommodation.​

If you are at risk of losing your home within the next 56 days, we will consider accepting a Prevention Duty to assist you. This means that we will have a 56-day period, that may be extended if necessary, to work with you in order to prevent your homelessness. Our first priority when preventing you from becoming homeless will be to ensure you can remain living in your home using a number of resources and services available to us.

If you are imminently homeless or already homeless, we will consider accepting a Relief Duty to assist you. This means that we will have a 56-day period in which to relieve your homelessness. This may include offering a rent deposit scheme or referring to other services that can help you secure alternative accommodation. In the first instance, this is likely to be private rented accommodation. If we have reason to believe that you have a priority need for accommodation, we can provide emergency interim accommodation during the Relief period. If we are unable to relieve your homelessness, we will consider if there is any further duty owed to you – for example, the main housing duty. You will be notified of any decisions in writing.

The City of London will provide you with interim accommodation for the duration of Relief duty if there is reason to believe that you are homeless, eligible for housing assistance and in priority need (visit the NHAS website for an explanation of this criteria). The interim accommodation you are offered will not be in the City of London and you may have to share facilities with others. Due to the criteria specified, the City of London is not able to offer interim accommodation to all homeless applicants.

You will be expected to agree the terms of your Temporary Accommodation Agreement and not breach any of the terms and conditions. You may also be expected to contribute to your rent and charges. You will be able to remain in your interim accommodation throughout the Relief duty period or until a decision has been made on your homeless application.

If the City of London accepts the main housing duty following the Relief period, you will be able to remain in your accommodation until you secure permanent housing. You may have to move to alternative temporary accommodation, but this is unlikely. If the City of London does not accept the main housing duty following the Relief period, you will be given reasonable notice and asked to leave your interim accommodation placement. You will be notified of all decisions in writing. Please see the Temporary Accommodation Allocations Policy​ for more details.