I have been told to leave my family/friend's home

The Council can provide you with advice and assistance depending on your situation.

The Council will firstly need to know the reasons why you have been asked to leave and will need to be given contact details for your family/friends so we can contact them. We can then try to mediate between both parties with the aim of helping you stay at your current accommodation or at least give you extra time to find a new place to live.

The Council can also help you move into a new property through either financial assistance or through a referral.

Options that may be available to you include:

Privately renting:

• If applicable, the Council can provide you with up to £500 through our Single Persons Rent Deposit Scheme to help with a deposit to secure yourself private rented accommodation.
• You can also apply for Housing Benefit to see if you are eligible for receiving help with your rent. If you are under 35, you will only receive the rate for a single room.

Hostels:

• The Council can provide you with a list of hostels (available on our website) that are in or close to the borough which offer short-term accommodation. This can provide you with enough time to secure yourself new permanent accommodation and to apply for any support or benefits that you may be entitled to.

Supported housing:

• Supported housing is a type of accommodation which also offers help to tenants. Support workers focus on the tenants’ individual needs and requirements. Placements usually last up to two years. The Council can help you access supported housing.

Further guidance:

• Guide to finding accomodation in the borough of Reigate & Banstead

East Surrey Outreach Service (eSOS)

• The East Surrey Outreach Service (eSOS) offers support and guidance to those who are currently rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping and can help you access accommodation in hostels. (See contact details below). The Council or other agencies can refer you or you can contact eSOS directly. You need a local connection to this borough to access their service.

Contacts

Useful housing contacts.