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You are entitled to permanent accommodation if the Housing Executive decides you are a Full Duty Applicant. You can get permanent accommodation from either the Housing Executive or a housing association. You are entitled to three reasonable offers.
If your homeless status was awarded on account of a restricted person in your household, the Housing Executive will only make one offer of private rented accommodation, with a tenancy term of at least twelve months. If you refuse this offer of private rented accommodation the Housing Executive does not have to provide you with further offers of accommodation.
What permanent accommodation is available?
You can receive an offer of permanent accommodation from either the Housing Executive or a housing association. The accommodation should be suitable for you and anyone who usually lives with you. You will usually be offered accommodation in one of the areas you indicated on your  Housing and Transfer Application Form . However, if you are a Full Duty Applicant and you have not been housed after being on the waiting list for six months, the Housing Executive will automatically widen your areas of choice. The Housing Executive should inform you once they have done this. If you feel that the accommodation is not suitable you may be able to challenge that decision through the new process which has come into effect on 1 December 2010. You should seek advice from Housing Rights Service about challenging such a decision.
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Can I arrange my own accommodation?
You can arrange your own permanent accommodation. If you are thinking about finding your own accommodation even though you are entitled to permanent accommodation from the Housing Executive, you should get advice as soon as possible.
If you are a Full Duty Applicant you may be able to rent from a private landlord and keep your Full Duty Applicant status. If you decide to rent privately while waiting for an offer of permanent accommodation you should get permission from the Housing Executive. If you decide to take on a temporary tenancy in the private rented sector try to find a landlord who will accept a tenancy term of 6 months. The Housing Executive may consider a longer tenancy as suitable permanent accommodation. If this happens, you could lose your Full Duty Applicant status.
If you are going to rent privately while waiting for permanent accommodation from the Housing Executive, you should get advice from the Housing Executive or an advice agency.
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How long will I have to wait for permanent accommodation?
It is not possible to say how long you will have to wait for permanent accommodation. Your waiting time will depend on:
- the number of points you have been awarded,
- your overall position on the waiting list,
- when the type of accommodation you need becomes available in your area of choice.
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What if I don't like the first accommodation I'm offered?
You are entitled to three reasonable offers of accommodation. If you don't want to move into the property you can refuse. Get advice if you receive an offer that you think is unreasonable. If you feel that the accommodation is not suitable you may be able to challenge that decision. You should seek advice from Housing Rights Service about challenging such a decision. Some examples of an unreasonable offer are:
- the property doesn't have enough bedrooms,
- you have a medical condition which makes the property unsuitable,
- the property is owned by a landlord you stated you did not wish to be housed by,
- the property is unsafe for occupation,
- the property is in serious disrepair,
- you would feel under threat living in the property.
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What happens if the Housing Executive says I am not entitled to permanent accommodation?
The Housing Executive must send you a decision letter on your homeless application within 30 days. If the decision is negative, the letter must include reasons why the Housing Executive has decided you are not homeless or threatened with homelessness.
If the Housing Executive says that you are not entitled to permanent accommodation as a homeless person, there are a number of different options available to you.
Renting privately
If the Housing Executive has said you aren't a Full Duty Applicant you may want to consider renting privately. If you are going to rent privately you should be aware that accommodation can vary widely in quality, size, price and services. In some areas of Northern Ireland it is easy to find affordable places to rent but in other areas there may be very little available.
Renting privately can be very expensive, and it can be difficult for people on a low income to rent privately. You will usually have to pay:
- a deposit,
- a month's rent in advance,
- higher rent than housing benefit will cover.
If you're considering renting from a private landlord, visit our renting advice subsite to find out more about your rights and responsibilities as a private tenant.
If you have been told you are ineligible for permanent accommodation, you have been offered unreasonable accommodation or you are a Full Duty Applicant thinking about renting privately you should get advice as soon as possible . An adviser can help you work out your housing options and explain if any help is available.
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