Young People aged 16 to 25

If you are aged 16 or 17 and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, we can help you understand your housing options and make sure you get the support that is right for you.

Because of your age, we will work alongside Children's Services to help you find somewhere safe to stay.

Please contact us as soon as possible so we can discuss your situation and the support available to you.

Call 0115 876 3300 or email housingaid@nottinghamcity.gov.uk for advice.

If you are aged 18 to 25 and are homeless or worried about becoming homeless, our Housing Solutions team can help.

We have specialist staff who work with young people and can offer advice based on your individual circumstances.

You do not need to wait until you are homeless before contacting us.

After speaking with you, we may invite you to meet with a Housing Casework Officer. We will assess your housing and support needs and work with you to create a Personalised Housing Plan (PHP), setting out the steps that you and the council can take to prevent or relieve homelessness.

Call 0115 876 3300 or email housingaid@nottinghamcity.gov.uk for advice.

A care leaver is someone aged 25 or under who has been looked after by a local authority for a qualifying period during their childhood.

If you are a care leaver or care experienced young person, you may be entitled to additional support with housing and independent living.

You can find out more about the support available on the webpage Extended Local Offer for Care Leavers - Nottingham City - Your Notts Directory

If you are worried about homelessness, you should contact your Personal Adviser if you have one. Alternatively, contact Housing Solutions for advice. We will work with you and, where appropriate, your Personal Adviser and the Leaving Care Service to help prevent homelessness and find suitable accommodation.

I'm an 18 to 20-year-old care leaver

Once you turn 18, you are usually responsible for paying for your accommodation and day-to-day living costs.

If you are aged 18 to 20 and are a qualifying care leaver, you will normally be considered to have a priority need if you become homeless or are at risk of homelessness within the next two months. This means the council has additional duties to help you and may have to provide emergency accommodation while your circumstances are assessed

I'm a care leaver aged 21 to 25

If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, Housing Solutions will assess your circumstances to decide what support may be available.

We will consider whether you qualify for homelessness assistance or temporary accommodation. Even if emergency accommodation is not available, we can still help you explore suitable longer-term housing options.

Contact Us

You do not need to wait until you are homeless before contacting us. Please call us on 01158763300 or email housingaid@nottinghamcity.gov.uk for advice. 

Benefits

At aged 18, you will be entitled to claim benefits. For more advice on claiming benefits, speak with your Personal Advisor/Social Worker. You can also visit Benefits - GOV.UK

It is also important to note that if you are receiving the ‘Housing Element’ of Universal Credit: What Universal Credit is - GOV.UK or Housing Benefit for a privately rented property and you are a care leaver, you will be eligible to claim the self-contained, one-bed rate of the Local ‘Housing Allowance’ within Universal Credit, instead of the Shared Accommodation Rate. As such, it is important to be sure that your rent is affordable and sustainable.

For Benefit advice and rules for care leavers, visit Tackling Financial Insecurity Together | Turn2us

If you are a care leaver and do not have accommodation available to you, you can apply to our housing register – HomeLink - Nottingham City Council. You can apply to our Housing Register before your 18th birthday, but your application will remain pending while we determine whether you can manage a tenancy.

Council Tax

From 1st April 2019, the Council will give a 100% discount for Council Tax payers aged 18 and 19 who were previously under the care of the Council. To get this discount the following conditions must be met:

• the taxpayer is under 20;
• they were previously under the care of Nottingham City Council;
• they are liable for Council Tax as a resident with the highest legal interest (i.e. it does not apply to empty properties);
• their personal advisor has submitted the required application to the Council Tax section

To receive this discount please contact your Personal Advisor who will then make the required application on your behalf to Council Tax. Please note this discount does not apply for any period before 1st April 2019 or to any taxpayer who was under care with any other Council.

If you are aged 18 to 25 and ask us for help because you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, we will look at your individual circumstances and your housing needs.

For many young people, a self-contained council or social housing property may not be an immediate option. Where it is safe and appropriate, we will first try to help you remain at home or return home, including working with you and your family/friends to resolve problems that may have led to you leaving.

If you cannot remain at home, we will discuss other suitable housing options with you. This may include shared accommodation, particularly where you are able to live independently but cannot afford or do not need a self-contained property.

If you are eligible for Housing Benefit or Universal Credit to help with your rent, the amount you can receive will depend on your circumstances and the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate that applies to you. For many single people under 35, this will usually be the shared accommodation rate.

We will talk to you about what accommodation may be affordable and suitable for you and what financial support may be available.

It is important to speak to us as early as possible. We can help you explore your options before you lose your accommodation.

You do not have to deal with homelessness on your own. There are organisations that can provide advice, support and practical help if you are homeless or worried about losing your home.

Broxtowe Youth Homelessness

Supports young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They can provide housing advice, support with maintaining a tenancy, mediation and practical support.

Website: Broxtowe Youth Homelessness
Tel: 0115 939 6760

Base 51

Provides support to young people in Nottingham, including help with housing and other issues that may affect your wellbeing or ability to live independently.

Website: Base 51
Tel: 0115 952 5040

Framework

Provides accommodation and support to people experiencing homelessness, including services for young people.

Website: Framework
Tel: 0115 841 7711

YMCA Robin Hood Group

Provides accommodation and support to young people, including help with moving towards independent living.

Website: YMCA Robin Hood Group
Tel: 0115 837 1871

P3 – Young Persons Homeless Prevention Service

P3 supports young people aged 16 to 21 (up to 25 if care experienced) who need help with their housing or are at risk of homelessness.

Website: P3 – Young Persons Homeless Prevention Service

To access P3 support, you will need a referral from Housing Solutions. Please call 0115 876 3300 to discuss a referral.

Nightstop

Nottingham Nightstop provides emergency overnight accommodation and crisis support for homeless young people aged 16 to 25. Volunteer hosts provide a private spare room, meals, washing facilities, toiletries and a safe environment.

You will need to be referred by Housing Solutions or Children's Services to access Nightstop, so please contact us directly to discuss this.