What to do if you're at risk of losing your home

If you’re at risk of becoming homeless, seek help as soon as possible. You can get advice and support to help you stay in your own home. You may also be able to get help to find somewhere else to live. 

Private tenants have new rights from 1 May 2026. For example, section 21 ’no fault’ evictions are now abolished, meaning your landlord will need a legal reason to evict you. For more information, visit Gov.uk, or contact our Helpline.

There are many reasons why you may be facing homelessness. You may be more at risk if you’re on a low income, or you experience mental or physical health problems. Bereavement or relationship breakdown, unaffordable or unsuitable housing, or a tenancy ending are other common causes.

This page looks at some of the main reasons why you may be at risk of losing your home and what you can do.

Your council has a duty to prevent homelessness. If you’re at risk of losing your home, they should work with you to help you avoid this. 

If you’re homeless already or will be in the next eight weeks, contact your council and tell them you want to make a homeless application. For more information about how to do this, read Help from your council if you’re homeless.

If you’re facing eviction

If you’ve received an eviction notice, get advice as soon as possible. You can ask your council for help if you’re in this situation. They may be able to negotiate with your landlord or help you find somewhere else to live. 

You will not have to move straight away – your landlord must give you notice and follow the right process, and this can take time. You may be able to challenge this. 

In some cases, the eviction notice may not be valid, so it’s always best to check. For example, in England, ’no fault’ evictions are now abolished – your landlord will need a legal reason to evict you if they are serving you a notice after 1 May 2026.

Your rights depend on what type of tenancy you have. You can find out more by using Shelter England’s tenancy rights checker or Shelter Scotland’s tenancy checker. 

In Wales, most renters will now have an occupation contract. Visit Shelter Cymru for more information about your rights.

Contact our free Helpline for advice and support. Or get in touch with:

In England and Wales, you can get legal aid if you’re facing eviction or repossession, whatever your financial situation. For more information, visit the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service. 

For information about help with legal costs in Scotland, visit mygov.scot.

Problems paying your rent

If you’re unable to pay your rent, speak to your landlord as soon as possible. They must follow a legal process before they can evict you and they should give you a chance to pay what you owe (your rent arrears). You may be able to work out a repayment plan even if they’ve already started court proceedings. 

If you’re at risk of eviction, your council must help you. They may be able to provide a grant or loan to help you pay your rent arrears. If your rent has increased and you can no longer afford to pay it, make sure you’re claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to, such as Housing Benefit. You can use our benefits calculator or contact our free Helpline for a benefits check.

The Renters’ Rights Act means that in England, your landlord can only increase your rent once a year, and they must give you two months’ notice.

If you’re getting Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit, you may be able to get:

Read Help with your rent or mortgage to find out how to apply.

Paying your rent should be a priority. Do not ignore the problem. You could contact a free debt organisation if you need help to manage your debts. 

In England and Wales, you may qualify for the Breathing Space scheme. This gives you time to work with a debt adviser to find a solution. You cannot be evicted for up to 60 days. In Scotland, you could apply for a moratorium. This protects you from legal action for six months. 

Our webpage Problems paying your rent has more information about the steps you can take and the help available. 

Repossession

Speak to your lender as soon as possible if you’re struggling to meet the payments on your mortgage. You may be able to delay or stop them repossessing your home. 

Lenders must be fair and reasonable. Repossession should be the last option they consider. You may be able to change the type of mortgage you have, or the terms of your mortgage. The MoneyHelper website has more information about help if you cannot pay your mortgage.

You should also get debt advice. You may qualify for the Breathing Space scheme in England and Wales, or a moratorium in Scotland. These can give you temporary protection while you make a plan. Visit Help if you're in debt for details of free debt advice services. 

You may qualify for help, such as a Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loan. In Scotland, you may be able to get help through the Home Owners' Support Fund. In Wales, you may qualify for the Help to Stay scheme. Read Help with your rent or mortgage for more information.

You could also consider equity release. This might help you stay in your home, but it can affect your entitlement to benefits. It’s important to get independent financial advice first. 

Mortgage lenders must follow a strict process before they can repossess your home. Shelter has more information about repossession at:

Domestic abuse

Your council must help you if you have to leave your home because of domestic violence and abuse. They may offer you somewhere to stay – for example, a refuge with specialist support – if you need it. You do not need to have reported abuse to the police to qualify for help.

You might be able to get help to stay in your home if it’s safe to do so. Or you may need to move to a different area to be safe. The councils in both areas must help you if you’re in this situation. 

If you’re at risk of or experiencing domestic abuse, you can get support from:

Unsuitable housing

Your home may not be suitable for various reasons – for example, it may be in a poor condition or some parts of it may not be easily accessible to you because you have a disability or illness.

If your home is no longer suitable for you because of a health condition or disability, your council may be able to advise on adaptations to your home or help you to explore other housing options, such as extra care housing.

As a first step, you could ask the council for a care needs assessment. This will work out what help or support you need with your care and how you might get it. The council must give you an assessment if you appear to need care and support. If you need help urgently, tell the council this when you contact them.

Landlords have certain responsibilities for maintenance and repairs. Speak to your landlord as soon as possible if there's a problem. If your landlord refuses to carry out repairs, you can get help. Contact our Helpline for advice if you’re in this situation. 

You can also contact your council if your home is unsafe or in poor condition – for example, if your home is damp and this is affecting your health, or fire safety measures are not in place. The council may take steps to force your landlord to meet safety standards. 

If you own your home and it is in poor condition, our factsheet Paying for home maintenance and repairs has information about help and grants you may be able to get. If your home is unsafe, you can also ask your council for help.

If your friends or family ask you to leave

If you’re staying with friends or family and they’ve asked you to leave, contact your local council. The council may be able to negotiate for you to stay longer while you work out your options. 

In some cases, the council may be able to arrange mediation. You may have to pay for this, but if you’re on a low income, you may be able to get support.

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Next steps

Contact your local council as soon as possible if you’re at risk of losing your home. Visit Gov.uk if you’re in England or Wales, or Shelter Scotland, to find contact details.

For advice and support, contact our Helpline. You can also contact:

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