Sometimes health, disability, money worries or other changes in life can make it harder to manage your home. If that’s happening to you, Housing Services can offer support to suit your situation.
Our policy on situations when tenants are vulnerable explains how we recognise your needs and treat you fairly.
When you can ask for support to suit you
If you're a council tenant, you can ask Housing Services for support if you or a member of your household experience:
- ill health
- a disability
- bereavement
- money worries
- mental health difficulties
These are examples, not a complete list.
You do not need to show us proof. Tell us how your situation affects you and what would make our services easier to use.
What support we can give with rent, health and difficult situations
If you are in a vulnerable situation, Housing Services can give you help you manage your home and rent payments. We can:
- help with money – our finanical inclusion officers advise on benefits you can claim and different ways you can pay your rent
- contact you in a way that suits you, for example by letter or in person, and give you more time to answer the door
- point you to how you can request changes to your home you might need, such as a ramp or grab rails
- help with problems that affect whether you are happy in your home, like anti-social behaviour
- help you access other services, such as health, care and advice
If you have need support with a complex mix of life challenges
If you need more than your housing officer can offer because of a complex mix of needs, we might ask our Intensive Housing Needs Officer to support you.
If you are finding it hard to manage the amount of belongings in your home, our Hoarding Officer can support you.
All suppport can be for a short time or longer, depending on your situation.
How to ask for help
Tell us what you’re finding difficult. You can:
- call Housing Services on 01708 434343 between 9am and 5pm
- tell us through the online Housing contact form
- speak to your housing officer, including at a tenancy visit
If you don’t know who your housing officer is, email residentservices@havering.gov.uk. We’ll get back to you in 10 working days or less.
What happens after you tell us
- We'll consider what you find difficult and what support you think would help.
- We'll record your support and communciation needs, including who you'd like to speak for you.
- Within 10 working days, we'll decide what changes we can make to your service.
- We'll introduce changes we can make to your service when we are able to after 10 working days.
- We'll review what support we give to every year, or sooner, if you tell us your situation has changed.
If you’re behind with your rent
If you’re behind with your rent, or we're considering action against your tenancy, we’ll take your circumstances into account.
You still have to follow your tenancy agreement, but we must consider your needs and avoid making things unfairly worse for you.
The council also gives temporary financial help in an emergency, and advice on money and debt.