	Housing Needs Service
	Torbay Council
	Connections Town Hall Castle Circus Torquay TQ1 3DS
	housing.advice @torbay.gov.uk
	01803 208723
	01803 208282
	Additional Contact Details

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Homeless Prevention

How can Torbay Council help?

If you are homeless or worried about losing your home, we can help.

Perhaps you are not getting on well with your friends or family, having difficulty paying your rent or mortgage, or your landlord has said he is going to give you notice. It may be that your relationship has broken down or you do not feel safe at home because of violence.

We can help you whether you are a tenant, own your property, or are lodging with your family. We can also help if you are a landlord and are thinking of giving your tenant notice, but want to try to resolve the situation. We offer free confidential advice.

The earlier you contact us, the more chance we have of helping you.

Don’t leave it until it’s too late!

What to do next:

You can find more information and advice by choosing one of the options listed above which most closely fits your situation. If you cannot find one which applies to you, please contact us for further advice.

How can I contact you?

Our contact details are shown on the right hand side of this page.
A phone service is available: 01803 208723
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday -8.30 am to 5.30 pm
Wednesday 10 am to 5.30 pm

We will discuss your situation with you and give you advice to try to resolve your situation. If you need to see an officer in person, we will make an appointment for you.

Can I see someone for advice?

If we can’t resolve your situation over the phone, we now offer appointments with a Housing Needs Assessment Officer at Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. If you need to make an appointment, please tell us where would be best for you and we will try to help. If you are not able to come to the office due to ill health or disability, please let us know and we will arrange to visit you at home.

Appointments are offered from 9 o’clock in the morning (from 10.15 on Wednesdays) as follows:

Torquay Connections - Monday to Friday
Paignton Connections - Monday and Thursday
Brixham Connections, - Friday

Who will see me?

When you arrive at the office, you will be seen by a Housing Needs Assessment Officer, who will talk to you about your housing situation. If you are at risk of losing your home, the officer will tell you what they can do to help you to keep your accommodation and advise you what you need to do yourself to keep your home. The same officer will deal with your case until your situation is resolved.

How can they help me?

We can help you by:

Mediation with your friends or family
Negotiation with your landlord
Advice about benefits
Information about other accommodation options
Support to help you keep your home and live independently
Representing you in court if your landlord or building society are threatening you with repossession

We will also give you advice about other agencies who can help you.

What happens if I become homeless when the office is closed?

If you become homeless when we are closed, we operate an out of hours service. This service is for emergencies only and is not able to give general advice. You can contact them on 01803 524519.

What happens if I become homeless?

If we cannot prevent you becoming homeless, we have a legal duty to make certain investigations into your case and decide whether we have a duty to assist you.

What enquiries do you have to make?

Please visit our Homelessness Frequently Asked Questions page or visit the Shelter website.

Where else can I go for advice?

You could also contact the following agencies for free confidential advice via the Where else can I go for advice? page.

Citizens Advice Bureau
Shelter

For further information view related pages and external links on the right hand side of this page.

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