If you are at risk of homelessness
The prevention duty
As part of the prevention duty, we must provide you with advice and support if:
- you are eligible for housing support
- are taking steps to secure your own accommodation
How we can help you avoid homelessness
Wherever possible, we will work with you to make sure that you do not become homeless.
We can help you avoid homelessness by negotiating with your landlord or the people you live with.
We can give you information about:
- rent arrears and affordability issues
- grants or benefits that may be available to you
- housing related support to help you live independently
- adapting, swapping or downsizing your home to make it more affordable
- sheltered housing, depending on your age
Recognising efforts to prevent homelessness
The effort you make to prevent homelessness is recognised by the band we place you in on the housing register.
Since being on the register, if you have secured alternative private rented housing:
- 5 or more times, you will be awarded band B (urgent priority)
- 4 times, you will be awarded band C (high priority)
- up to 3 times, you will be awarded band D (medium priority)
For more information on this banding system, visit our housing register site, BFC My Choice.
If you are homeless
The relief duty
If we have not been able to prevent you from becoming homeless, you will be eligible for the relief duty. The relief duty lasts for up to 56 days.
If you're still homeless after 56 days, we usually stop our relief duty. At this point, we will issue a homeless decision.
How we can help if you are homeless
As part of the relief duty, we must take reasonable steps to help you secure suitable accommodation for at least 6 months.
Accommodation:
- can be a private rental
- is not limited to council housing or accommodation provided by a housing association
- can be within the borough but likely to be outside due to the short supply of housing
If you refuse a suitable offer, we may not have any further duty to house you.
If you are a homeless household, we may have to provide you with emergency accommodation. If there is no other option, we may have to place you in bed and breakfast accommodation. This may also be outside the borough.
Eligibility
You may be eligible for support if:
- you have the right to live in the United Kingdom and you are entitled to access public funds
- you are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days
- you are in one of the following ‘priority need’ categories:
- you have dependent children in full time education
- you are pregnant
- you are homeless following an emergency such as a fire or flood
- you are homeless as a result of your age, mental illness, disability or are fleeing domestic violence
- you have not made yourself intentionally homeless
- you have links or connections to the area
If you do not have a local connection to Bracknell Forest, we will refer you to a council where you do have a connection.
How to get help
If you are homeless or think you might be at risk of losing your home, contact us as soon as possible so we can try to help.
Book an appointment by phoning 01344 352010. You can also fill in our online form.