This information applies to Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) has a legal duty to give help and advice to most people who are homeless, but they do not have to provide accommodation for everyone. If you have just arrived in the UK or you have just returned after living abroad, you may not be eligible for re-housing.

The NIHE will check that you are actually homeless or about to become homeless. If you have a home somewhere else, where you could reasonably live, you will not be treated as homeless. The NIHE will also have to decide whether you or someone in your household is vulnerable. This is called being in priority need.

You will be in priority need if you are pregnant or have children, or if you are a young person aged between 16 and 21 who is at risk of financial or sexual exploitation. You will also be in priority need if your home has been affected by an emergency such as fire or flood. You could also be a priority if you had to leave your last home because of domestic or racial violence. You may also be in priority need because of old age, poor mental or physical health, or because you have a physical disability.

You must not have lost your home because of something that you deliberately did or failed to do. For example, if you were evicted from your home because of anti-social behaviour you could be classed as intentionally homeless. The NIHE will also check that you have a connection with the district office. This may be because you normally live, work or have family there. If they decide that you have a local connection with another area, they will refer you to that district office instead.

The NIHE may give you temporary accommodation while they investigate your circumstances. If you are found to be homeless and in priority need (and not intentionally homeless) the NIHE must help you to find suitable, available accommodation or arrange accommodation for you. The accommodation must be available for you to live in for at least two years but they do not have to provide a permanent home for you. However, you should be able to put your name on the housing register for permanent housing.

For more information on being re-housed by the NIHE, see Finding Accommodation.

Other Housing FAQs:

• I've received a Claim for possession from the county court because I have not paid my rent. What can I do?
• I own my home but have fallen behind with my mortgage payments. I’ve heard about companies that can clear your debts, buy your home and then rent it back to you but I want to know more. Can you help?
• I paid a deposit when I moved into my rented house. I have now moved out but the landlord will not return the deposit. What can I do?
• I have been on the waiting list for a Northern Ireland Housing Executive house for ages. What can I do to speed things up?
• The house I rent is very damp. I told the landlord but she has not done anything about it. What else can I do?
• Can my freeholder increase my service charge?
• I rent my flat privately and the landlord wants to increase the rent. Can he do this?
• What do I need to know before getting a mortgage?
• Can the flat owners run the building we live in?
• What can I do about a mortgage endowment shortfall?