Housing Advice

	Housing Needs Team
	Torbay Council
	Pearl Assurance House 101 - 107 Union Street Torquay TQ1 3DW
	housing.advice @torbay.gov.uk
	01803 208723
	01803 208282
	Additional Contact Details

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The Housing Needs Team offers advice and information on a wide range of housing issues, including:

We can also represent you in court if you are threatened with eviction by your landlord or mortgage company.

It is important that you contact us as soon as possible if you have a problem and are worried you may lose your home. The earlier you contact us, the better chance we have of helping you.

Don’t leave it until it’s too late!

How can I contact you?

Our contact details are shown on the right hand side of this page.
A phone service is available: 01803 208723
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday -8.30 am to 5.30 pm
Wednesday 10 am to 5.30 pm

I have nowhere to stay tonight/I don’t feel safe at home.

If you have no accommodation where you can stay or your accommodation is not safe for you, for example, due to violence, we will see you the same day.

I want to move into private rented accommodation but I need a deposit. Is there anywhere that can help me? (Guide for tenants)

Most landlords will ask you to pay a deposit before you move into their property. This is to protect them against any damages or debt when you leave.

One option you could consider is whether you can borrow the money from family or friends.

If you have been on certain types of benefit for at least six months, you can apply to Jobcentre Plus to see if they can help you through the Social Fund. There is no guarantee that they will be able to help you and each case will be looked at on its own merits.

Contact Your Local Jobcentre:

Torquay Jobcentre Plus, Regal House, Castle Circus
Tel 01803 356000

Brixham Jobcentre Plus, Decca House, 28 New Road
Tel 01803 356900

Jobcentre Plus Website: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Torbay Council has now introduced a new scheme in partnership with Torbay Pound to help people access private rented accommodation. We are working with landlords and letting agents in Torbay who have been accredited through the Torbay Landlords' Accreditation Scheme to help people move into good quality rented accommodation.

For further information please go to related documents for information on help with deposits - a guide for tenants

What about if I need to see someone for advice?

We now offer appointments with a Housing Needs Assessment Officer at Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. If you need to make an appointment, please tell us where would be best for you and we will try to help. If you are not able to come to the office due to ill health or disability, please let us know and we will arrange to visit you at home.

Appointments are offered from 9 o’clock in the morning as follows:

Torquay - Pearl Assurance House, 101-107 Union Street - Monday to Friday
Paignton - Connections Office, 56 Palace Avenue - Monday and Thursday
Brixham - Connections Office, Town Hall, New Road - Friday

Who will see me and how can they help me?

When you arrive at the office, you will be seen by a Housing Needs Assessment Officer, who will talk to you about your housing situation and also whether you need support to help you to live at home. They can then advise you about the different housing and support options which they think are suitable for you and how the Council and other agencies can help.

If you are worried about losing your home, the officer will tell you what they can do to help you to keep your accommodation and also advise you what you need to do yourself to keep your home.

See our page on Preventing homelessness for more advice.

The same officer will deal with your case until your situation is resolved.

What happens if I become homeless when the office is closed?

If you become homeless when we are closed, we operate an out of hours service. This service is for emergencies only and is not able to give general advice. You can contact them on 01803 524519.

Related Documents

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