Worried about becoming homeless?

COVID-19 update

Waltham Forest Housing has closed the reception area at Cedar Wood House.

During this period of closure all our services will be conducted via email and telephone. In order to safeguard our residents we are asking only those that require immediate assistance to contact us.

• For homelessness issues please contact 020 8496 3000 or Housing.advice@walthamforest.gov.uk. Do not try and visit with documents.
• For temporary accommodation queries email temporaryaccommodation@walthamforest.gov.uk
• For Emergency Repairs (Council Tenants) please continue to contact us as normal on 020 8496 4197.
• For Urgent Housing Management Issues contact wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk or 020 4896 4197.
• If you come across someone sleeping rough- please contact Streetlink.
• If you need to communicate with one of our Rent Team rents@walthamforest.gov.uk or call 020 8496 4197.
• If you need to communicate with one of our Home Ownership Team rtb.lease@walthamforest.gov.uk or call 020 8496 4197.

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If you feel you're at risk of becoming homeless, please don't wait until you have nowhere to stay.

The help we can give is specific to your personal situation. It can range from giving you advice and guidance specific to you, to offering you temporary or permanent accommodation.

Get housing help now

Please use our new online help tool to get help straight away.

Just answer a few questions about your situation and it will explain your housing options and tell you what to do next. It will tell you if you need to come in to see us urgently and what you need to bring.

Get housing help now

Situations that can lead to homelessness

We can help you in many situations that could put you at a risk of becoming homeless. These include:

• your landlord asking you to leave
• friends or family members you live with asking you to leave
• rent arrears
• mortgage arrears
• discrimination, harassment and illegal eviction
• relationship breakdown
• Housing Benefit issues
• domestic violence issues
• ... and more...

Am I entitled to help?

English law says that every eligible person at risk of homelessness is entitled to 56 days of help from their council to prevent them becoming homeless.

If you're at risk of homelessness then you're automatically entitled to this help - provided you're not subject to immigration control.

The law that states this is the Homeless Reduction Act (2017), which was introduced in April 2018.

What help will I get?

A Housing Officer will assess your circumstances and support needs and offer you tailored advice and help you stay in your current home or find alternative accommodation before you become homeless. If we decide you're in 'priority' need we may offer you temporary accommodation.

What happens if I become homeless?

There are different rules for people who are homeless. Please see our homelessness page.