We work with other council services, local charities and community partners to provide the right support for you.
The quickest way to understand your options and our statutory responsibilities is through the information on our homelessness prevention and housing advice webpages.
The sooner you know the options available to you, the sooner you can take the relevant steps that work best for you and your circumstances.
Steps to avoid becoming homeless
If you're struggling financially and need help with money, you may be eligible to apply for support such as grants, benefits, help with bills and local schemes. Visit the Lightening Reach portal.
If you are at risk of losing your home, there are several ways you can get help to remain in your home. You may be able to get support with:
- Managing debts and household bills
- Managing your private tenancy
- Being evicted by friends or family
- Struggling with your mortgage
- Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
- Universal Credit
Our Tenancy Sustainment Team can offer support to help you maintain your home and manage your tenancy.
Support from the council
We can only support people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
You could be considered homeless if you:
- do not have a home in the UK or anywhere else that you have a legal right to live in
- have a moveable home, such as a boat or caravan, but have nowhere you can legally place it
- are at risk of harm if you stay in your current home
You could be considered at risk of homelessness if:
- you’re likely to lose your home within the next 56 days
- you’ve received a valid notice to quit (e.g., a Section 21 notice)
- you’ve been given a notice of seeking possession (NOSP), and this notice expires within 56 days
Being homeless does not mean you will receive council or social housing.
If we have a statutory duty to offer you housing, this housing will be private rented accommodation. You will only receive one offer of suitable housing.
Due to the severe shortage of affordable housing in Lambeth, households could be made offers of housing outside of Lambeth or London. In-borough housing and social housing is prioritised for specific groups according to need.
Rough sleeping
If you are rough sleeping and do not have any information or proof of your income, previous tenancy information and documents, do not let this stop you from contacting us.
Non British/Irish nationals
If you are not a British or Irish national, we will need more information from you to decide how we can help you. Read Shelter's guidance on homeless applications: immigration and residence.
Contact us
If you are unable to resolve your housing issues using our homelessness prevention and housing advice webpages, you may benefit from contacting the Housing Advice Service.
We will work with you to keep you in your current home or help you to find alternative private rented accommodation.
If you are not registered with us, you should contact the Housing Advice Team on 020 7926 4200 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
A member of our team will talk with you to see if making a homeless application is the right thing for you.
If you need urgent assistance during evenings or weekends, which cannot wait until the service re-opens, call 020 7926 1000.
Contact your caseworker
If you’ve already registered with us, please get in touch with your caseworker for support. You can find their phone number at the bottom of the email they have sent you.
Contact us to make a referral
If you work for a public organisations listed in the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and need to let us know if someone you support is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, please read our duty to refer guidance.
Other homelessness advice
Get advice and further homelessness help if you: