Welcome to our Housing pages

Without doubt housing is one of the highest outgoings for any family, for a single parent it becomes even more of a drain on resources.  There are many issues relating to housing; for example, you may be looking to buy your own home, you may be homeless or fleeing from an abusive relationship and need emergency accommodation, you may have just arrived in the UK from abroad.  You may want to get yourself on the housing register.  How do you find safe housing, in a good neighbourhood with good schools?

If you have a specific question why not contact our Housing Expert.

What we have tried to do below is to list the main organisations that will be able to give you advice and support.  If you know of any other support organisations that are not listed please do drop us a line at housing@onlymums.org and we will add them.

Advice Guide

This website is the Citizens Advice Bureau’s (CAB) advice pages; it has a section on housing which is very helpful covering all aspects from housing benefits to problems with landlords.  It is worth finding your nearest CAB office, which you can do on the above website and getting their initial advice, they will be able to advice you on what you can and can’t do.

Direct.gov

This is an invaluable site.  You will find huge amounts of information ranging from ‘Buying and Selling your home’ to ‘Keeping your home, Eviction and Homelessness’. If you want to find out how to contact your local authority enter ‘Local Councils’ in the search box and it will take you to a list of directories, click on number one (local councils) and you can find all the details you will need to contact the housing department in your local authority.

Shelter

Shelter is one of the largest charities dealing with housing issues.  You will find everything you need on here. There is advice on everything including; Eviction, Repossession, Paying for a home, Finding a place to live and Renting and Leaseholds. It also has a wealth of up-to-date information on all the latest issues relating to housing in the UK.

St. Mungo's

St Mungo’s provides support, treatment and shelter for those living on the streets in London and the South of England, whilst also providing advice and support to those at risk of becoming homeless. This support can range from simply having someone to talk to and help organise your finances in order to make your current circumstances more secure, to moving into one of our supported housing developments.  

Housing Rights

This is a very good website if you have just arrived in the UK or have been here some time from abroad and want to find out what your housing rights are.  It covers; Recently arrived in the UK, Refugees, Indefinite leave to remain, Work permit holders, EEA workers, Other EEA nationals, EEA family members, A8 Nationals, Bulgarians and Romanians, People fleeing domestic violence and people with social care needs.

Crisis

Crisis is a charity for single homeless people. Very useful website, it has a project called Smart Move which is a nationwide network of best-practice model deposit schemes that provide non-statutory homeless people with access to good quality accommodation in the private sector. To find out more go to the Crisis site and type ‘Smart Move’ into the search box.

The National Housing Federation

The National Housing Federation is the voice of affordable housing, reperesenting housing associations in England.  It also campaigns for better housing and neighbourhoods. Click here to find out more about what a housing association is and how it works.

Womens Aid

Women’s Aid is the national domestic violence charity which co-ordinates and supports a network of over 370 local domestic violence organisations. Their website offers advice and support on emergency housing. They have a 24 hour National Domestic Violence helpline – 0808 2000 247.

Scottish Womens Aid

The leading organisation in Scotland working towards the preventions of Domestic Abuse. Their website includes information and support on safe refuge accommodation/housing. They have a 24 hour helpline 0800 027 1234 24.

Refuge

Refuge's network of safe houses provides emergency accommodation for women and children when they are most in need. They have a 24 hour helpline 0808 2000 247.