Renfrewshire Council

Where to find help if you're worried you may become homeless

Our team is here to help prevent you from becoming homeless. If you are having difficulty paying your rent or mortgage and are at risk of losing your home through eviction or repossession, our Prevention Team can offer you advice on;

• your housing options
• your benefit entitlement
• your debt situation
• understanding the court process for eviction or repossession
• specialist legal or debt advice
• accessing support services.

If  you're 25 or over, call us on 0300 300 1203 or come to the Housing Advice and Homeless Services at 15 Abercorn Street, Paisley, PA3 4AA.

If you're under 25, call us on 0300 300 1203 or come to the George Street Service at 31to 35 George Street, Paisley, PA1 2JY.

If you an offender facing homelessness on release from custody

Renfrewshire Council New Start Officer works with offenders soon to be released from custody by providing a Housing Options Approach to sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness wherever possible.

If you are going to be homeless on release, you can request a housing appointment via the Prison Links Centre and the New Start Officer will make arrangements to contact you.

If you are in custody, you should keep in contact with your landlord to sustain your tenancy wherever possible but this will depend on the length of your sentence.

If a family member an offender facing homelessness on release from custody

If you have a family member in prison, the SPS website has links to organisations that can assist you.

Other useful links:

• Renfrewshire Council Criminal Justice Social Work
• Housing Associations
• Police Scotland

If you are leaving or have left the Armed Forces

If you are leaving the Armed Forces or you have been a member before, you can contact our Housing Advice and Homeless Services, a Local Neighbourhood Office or a Housing Association to arrange a Housing Options interview.

You can contact these organisations:

• Renfrewshire Council Housing Advice and Homeless Services at 0300 300 1203
• Housing Associations in Renfrewshire
• Johnstone Neighbourhood Services at 0300 300 0222 or email johnstone.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• Renfrew Neighbourhood Services at 0300 300 0222 or email renfrew.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk

If your landlord or mortgage provider is taking you to court to evict you

If you are a:

• tenant of a housing association
• tenant of a private landlord
• homeowner with a mortgage

and your landlord or mortgage provider is planning court action to evict you or repossess your home, they have a legal duty to notify us of this.

When we receive this notice, we will contact you to discuss your situation and see how we can help.

If you are concerned about your rent or mortgage payments please visit our dedicated section for Money and Debt Advice.

The Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme

The Deposit Guarantee Scheme provides more options for households that are homeless or about to become homeless.

The scheme can:

• help find a privately rented property that meets your individual need
• ensure any prospective landlord is registered with the council
• negotiate rent levels, where appropriate, and help you apply for Local Housing Allowance
• check that the property meets the Scheme's high standards
• provide a written guarantee to the landlord
• make sure that you have fair terms and conditions on your lease
• visit you at the property to make sure you are settling In.

Due to restrictions on Local Housing Allowance, not everyone is eligible for the Deposit Guarantee Scheme.

To find out more about the Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme, contact your Housing Options adviser directly, call 0300 300 1203 or email preventionteam.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk.