What to do if you are homeless

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If you have no accommodation, or you're threatened with the loss of your accommodation within the next two months, contact our housing advice and homeless services to arrange an interview.

How we can help
All homeless people are entitled to a minimum of 28 days temporary accommodation:

• if it is required, and
• provided they have a local connection to Renfrewshire

You don’t have to be in priority need or have to satisfy the Council that you are unintentionally homeless. However, it may be the case that you are able to stay with friends or relatives on a temporary basis. In these circumstances, you may still qualify for priority housing under the terms of the homelessness legislation.

To be entitled to permanent accommodation, there are four criteria you must meet:

• you're homeless
• you have a priority need
• you are not intentionally homeless
• you have a local connection to the area

If applicants have special circumstances, we look at their applications on a case by case basis. This includes people fleeing domestic violence or someone who has no local connection with anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Find out more
Detailed guidance on interpreting the criteria listed above is contained in the Scottish Office's Code of Guidance on Homelessness, updated in May 2004.
Although this is not a legal document, all local authorities must have regard to the Code when interpreting the legislation. Renfrewshire Council follows the code as carefully as possible.

Contact us

• email : housingadvice.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone : 0141 842 3060
• fax : 0141 842 3061
• call at our Reception desk or write to us at : Housing Advice and Homeless Services, Abercorn Street Service, 15 Abercorn Street, Paisley PA3 4AA.

Office hours

• Monday - Thursday 8.45 am - 4.45pm
• Friday 8.45 am - 3.55pm

Housing advice and homeless services operate an emergency service for anyone made homeless outside office hours. This freephone number is 0800 811 505. Out of office hours emergency cases are dealt with within 2 hours of call out.

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