Homelessness jargon

This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. This page applies to Scotland only. Get advice relating to England

Advice and assistance

Everyone who makes a homeless application to the council (see below) is entitled to some form of advice and assistance with their housing situation. This could be in the form of housing, financial, legal or welfare advice, or practical help with your situation.

Council review

If you think a decision the council has made about your homeless application is wrong, you can normally ask for a review. The council should let you stay in your temporary accommodation (see below) while the review is carried out. It's a good idea to get specialist advice before requesting a review.

Decision letter

Once the council has made a decision about your homeless application, it must send you a decision letter (sometimes known as a notification letter ) setting out whether you are entitled to support and, if so, of what nature, and explaining the reasons why. If you're not happy with the letter, you may be able to challenge the council's decision.

Eligibility

Some people from abroad are not entitled to help from the council if they are homeless. Read the page on eligibility to find out if this applies to you. The rules on eligibility are very complicated, so talk to an adviser from a housing aid centre or Citizens Advice Bureau if you're unsure about your situation.

Emergency accommodation

When you make a homeless application (see below), the council must offer you temporary accommodation (see below) while it looks into your situation. This is sometimes called interim accommodation or emergency accommodation.

Homeless application

If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness (see below), you may be entitled to help from the council. In order to get help, you need to contact the housing department or homelessness unit at your council and ask to make a homeless application. If the council offices are closed, there should be an emergency number you can call to get help. The address of your nearest office and the emergency number should be listed in the Advice Services Directory or on your council's website.

Homelessness

In order to get help from the council, you have to fall under the council's definition of homelessness - this is the first homelessness test (see below). The council has a very precise definition of homelessness, which may not be the same as yours. You don't have to be sleeping on the street to be homeless - if you don't have a safe or permanent home, you should be classed as homeless by the council.

Homelessness tests

Unfortunately, the council can't offer a new home to everyone who is homeless or threatened with homelessness (see below). There are several 'tests' you will need to pass before you will be eligible for a permanent home. These are: homelessness, priority need, intentionality and local connection . These tests help the council to work out what kind of help you're entitled to. To find out whether you pass the tests, the council will make inquiries into your situation (see below). You can download a flowchart here that shows you how the tests work and you can use our online assessment tool to find out if you're likely to pass the tests.

Hurdles

The homelessness tests (see above) are sometimes referred to as 'hurdles', and you need to get over each hurdle before you're entitled to a permanent home.

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