Duty to refer

Certain public authorities in England are required to tell us if any person using their services is likely to become homeless or will be threatened with homelessness within 56 days.

However referrals will only be made if the person involved consents to the referral.

Who has a duty to refer?

• Prisons
• Hospitals in their function to provide inpatient care
• Secure training centres
• Secure colleges
• Youth offending teams
• Probation services
• Job Centre Plus
• Social service authorities
• Emergency Departments
• Urgent treatment centres
• The Regular Forces
• Youth offending institutions

How does the process work?

If a public authority believes that you are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days, they will talk to you about making a referral on your behalf under the duty to refer.

If you agree to a referral being made on your behalf, they will complete an online partner referral form. When deciding who to send your form to, it would be advisable to approach a local authority with whom you have a location connection.

On receiving the referral form, we will contact you to discuss your circumstances, although it should be noted that a referral made by a public authority will not in itself constitute an application for assistance under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended).

Following our discussions with you, we establish what duty we have towards you and our response will be tailored to your specific needs. In order to achieve the best outcome for you, where possible, we will work with the public authority who referred you.

Referrals for assistance from anyone

If you are concerned about an individual who is homeless or threatened with homeless but you don’t work for a public authority, or are a family member or a friend, you can approach us for assistance on their behalf.

We will consider referrals for assistance from anyone, regardless of whether or not they work for a public authority. If you are working with, or you are concerned about a family member or a friend who is homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days and they consent to you contacting us on their behalf, we would encourage you to complete our Partner Referral form.

When deciding who to send your form to, it would be advisable to approach a local authority with whom they have a location connection.