This information applies to Scotland

Local authorities have 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.

If you are homeless, you need to get specialist advice from your CAB or local Shelter Housing Aid Centre. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that give advice by email, click on nearest CAB. Shelter Scotland provide a free housing advice helpline on 0808 800 4444. There may be a Shelter Housing Aid Centre you can visit in your area. You can find more details, and get advice on-line, at scotland.shelter.org.uk.

The local authority 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 local authority will also have to decide whether you or someone in your household is in priority need.

You will be in priority need if you are pregnant or have children or had to leave your last home because of domestic violence. You will also be in priority need if your home has been affected by an emergency such as fire or flood. You may also be in priority need because of old age or poor mental or physical health.

The local authority will not rehouse you if you are homeless 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 local authority will also check that you have a connection with the local area, for example, that you normally live, work or have family there. If they decide that you have a local connection with another area, they may refer you to that local authority instead.

The local authority will 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 local authority must help you to find suitable, available permanent accommodation or arrange accommodation for you.

For more information on being re-housed by the local authority, see Finding accommodation.

Other Frequently asked questions about home and neighbourhood:

• I own my home but have fallen behind with my mortgage payments. I’ve heard about mortgage rescue schemes: what are they?
• I have received a claim for possession from the Sheriff Court because I have not paid my rent. What can I do?
• My landlord will not return my deposit. What can I do?
• I have been on the waiting list for a council 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?
• I rent my flat privately and the landlord wants to increase the rent. Can he do this?
• I want to take out a mortgage to buy a house. What do I need to know?
• What can I do about a mortgage endowment shortfall?
• I own my home but have fallen behind with my mortgage payments. I've heard about companies that offer sale and rent back schemes