Housing

Housing advice

These agencies all offer advice around housing rights and rent arrears and a range of support from setting up payment plans to help with form filling.

Better Leeds Communities

If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, or need help with an urgent housing issue, Better Leeds Communities' free housing advice service is designed to support you as quickly as possible. They can advise on a wide range of housing issues. Face to face appointments, telephone and online support is all available.     

Phone     

0113 275 4142     

Email     

advice@betterleeds.org.uk     

Website     

Housing Advice - Better Leeds Communities

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice Leeds and Citizens Advice Chapeltown offer information about how to go about renting or buying a home or just finding somewhere to live. You can also find advice on council tax, handling problems with your landlord, help to avoid losing your home and homelessness.     

Phone     

0808 278 7878     

Website     

Housing advice - Citizens Advice

Shelter

Shelter is a registered charity that campaigns for tenant rights in Great Britain. It gives advice, information and advocacy to people and lobbies government and local authorities for new laws and policies. National digital and telephone services are available for help and advice on housing rights and options.     

Emergency helpine     

0808 800 4444     

Webchat     

Webchat with a Shelter advisor - Shelter England     

Website     

Get help from Shelter - Shelter England

Legal advice

Anyone facing repossession action for housing arrears (rent or mortgage) can get free representation at court on the day of the hearing through the duty solicitor scheme.     

Civil Legal Advice (CLA)

The Civil Legal Advice (CLA) service provides specialist legal advice to people across England and Wales who qualify for legal aid. Legal aid can help meet the costs of legal advice and representation in court.     

You will need to check if you are eligible for legal aid by answering some general questions and providing information about your income and savings. If you are eligible, you will be directed to a legal adviser. If CLA cannot help, they will suggest somewhere else you might be able to get advice.     

Phone     

0345 345 4 345

Website     

Check if you can get legal aid     

Help with housing costs and rent

The organisations listed below all offer free, impartial and confidential help and advice around housing rights and a range of support from setting up payment plans to help with form filling.

Leeds City Council Housing

Local housing offices can help with; payment plans for rent and arrears, benefits applications and referrals to Leeds Credit Union or other support services.     

Phone     

0800 188 4000 or 0113 376 0410

Email     

HousingEnquiries@leeds.gov.uk     

Contact Leeds City Council housing team

Gipsil (including OWL and Engage Leeds Services)

Housing and support services for young people, care leavers and adults who live with complex support needs.     

Phone     

0113 391 8000     

Website     

Find out more on the Gipsil website

Shelter

National digital and telephone service for help and advice on housing rights and options, including emergency homeless support.     

Emergency helpline     

0808 800 4444     

Find more information and support on the Shelter website

Connect Housing – Money Matters Service

Help and support for Connect Housing tenants, including benefit applications, budgeting support, access to debt advice, energy efficiency and referrals to other support services.     

Phone     

0300 5000 600     

Email     

hello@connecthousing.org.uk     

Website     

Find more support and advice on the Connect Housing website.

Help with homelessness

If you are homeless, at risk, or worried about someone who is sleeping on the streets, please see the organisations below who will be able to help.

Housing Options

If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, Leeds Housing Options may be able to help.     

They can also offer support in other housing situations, including: support for families, people with mental health needs, leaving hospital, leaving prison, fleeing domestic violence, young people, people leaving care and making adaptations to your home.     

Phone

0113 222 4412
(Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, except Wednesday 9:30am to 4pm)

Emergency out of hours     

0113 378 8366     

Email     

housing.options@leeds.gov.uk     

Street Outreach Service