Housing

If you’re:

  • homeless
  • at risk of homelessness
  • worried about paying your rent or mortgage
  • needing advice about your existing housing
  • wanting to find out about housing benefit

you can get specific advice for ex-services personnel from:

Local support across Devon is available by contacting info@armedforceshub.org or visit the Armed Forces Community Support Hub website

Veterans Gateway – Information and useful services for veterans seeking housing support
Use our housing section for expert advice from our partners on renting or buying properties, eviction, homelessness, service accommodation, care homes and supported housing. Find veteran-specific accommodation provided by our partners.https://support.veteransgateway.org.uk/app/finding_a_home
National Helpline: Telephone 0808 802 1212 Text: 81212 or

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity
Practical Housing Advice and support for veterans and their dependents
Housing advice: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/joining-civvy-street/housing-advice |
Phone: 0800 260 6767

If you are looking for help with your situation you can contact Forcesline. Forcesline is a free and confidential telephone helpline and email service that provides support for serving (regulars and reserves), ex-Forces and for their families.
SSAFA is outside of the military chain of command, will listen and we will not judge. Your privacy when seeking help is fundamentally important to us.
Forcesline; https://www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/forcesline or telephone 0800 260 6767

Shelter
Help if you’re homeless: veterans – Shelter England
Phone: 0808 800 4444 to speak to an advisor at Shelter.
Phone: 0344 515 2399 to contact the local Shelter housing office in Plymouth.
Visit: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness

St Petrock’s Exeter
Exeter’s charity for people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. They can provide emergency support and help you get into permanent accommodation.
Phone: 01392 217550
Visit: http://stpetrocks.org.uk/menu-text-in-need-of-help/what-we-offer/
Drop in: St. Petcock’s (Exeter) Ltd. 10 Cathedral Yard Exeter EX1 1HJ
Plymouth Path
Plymouth Access to Housing (PATH) charity supports people who are homeless or vulnerably housed in Plymouth, They can help if you are rough sleeping, if you need to help to stay in your home and can help you to find accommodation.
PATH – Home (pathdevon.org)
28-42 Harwell Court
Plymouth
PL1 1PY
Email: info@pathdevon.org
Tel: 01752 255889

Social housing is in short supply but Councils will consider applications from veterans up to five years after leaving service. To apply you must contact the district council for the area you want to live in. Each district council has its own waiting list and application process.

Use the Gov.UK council finder to find out which district council you need to contact.
Visit: https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council

District councils in Devon

The information you include helps the council decide if you can apply for a council home and your priority on the waiting list.
On your application, you need to tell the council:

  • that you have served in the armed forces
  • if your current home is overcrowded
  • if you have medical problems or a disability which means your current home is unsuitable
  • if you are at risk of homelessness
  • if you can’t afford a privately rented home

If you have medical problems or a disability you may need to get letters from a doctor to support your application.
Be aware that some people will not be successful in their application and waiting list times can be very long.
You can get independent help and information about the process.
CAB
Citizens Advice Bureau has general information about being a social housing tenant on their national website.
Visit: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/social-housing/

Most social housing is now available through the same route as council housing so you will need to contact your district council.

You can apply to some housing associations directly. Some associations will be open to anyone, and some will help specific groups such as people recovering from addiction, prison leavers and vulnerable older people.

Find the full list of housing associations and resettlement projects through the Devon Community Directory.
Visit: https://services.pinpointdevon.co.uk/kb5/devon/services/results.page?qt=social+housing&term=&sorttype=relevance&adultchannel=0%252520

Private renting may be directly from the landlord or through a letting agent. Bear in mind that letting agencies will charge fees for processing your paperwork and you will usually need to pay a deposit, often a month’s rent, and the first month’s rent before moving in.

Find a home

When finding a home to rent you can check for local properties online at:
Rightmove: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/
Zoopla: http://www.zoopla.co.uk/
Gumtree: https://www.gumtree.com/
Prime Location:http://www.primelocation.com/
On the Market: http://www.onthemarket.com/

You can also check local newspapers and speak to friends and family. It is often a good idea to speak to local letting agents and let them know what you are looking for so they can let you know when a suitable property becomes available.
Your district council might also be able to offer advice on finding a home Use the Gov.uk council finder to find out which district council you need to contact.
Visit:https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council

Shelter
Shelter can provide detailed independent information about privately renting your home, including understanding your tenancy agreements, your rights and responsibilities, costs of renting and dealing with problems is available from Shelter.
Visit: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting.

Shared ownership schemes
Shared ownership schemes are provided through housing associations. You buy a share of your home (25% to 75% of the home’s value) and pay rent on the remaining share. Visit the government website below for more information.
Visit: https://www.gov.uk/affordable-home-ownership-schemes

Buying a home is a complicated process. There is lots of information to help you, but make sure you are using reliable, independent sources.

Buying a home is often the largest purchase you will make in your lifetime. It is really important you have the right information, at the right time, to ensure you make informed decisions.

You can avoid stress and speed up the process by knowing which questions to ask, what your rights are, and what responsibilities you have as a home buyer. You will find a glossary at the end of this guide for many of the technical terms it uses, including those highlighted in bold. Please visit the government link below

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-buy-a-home/how-to-buy

Money Saving Expert
Information for all buyers, with a free first time buyers guide, a cheap mortgage finder and a stamp duty calculator.
Visit: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/
Find a home
When finding a home to buy you can check for local properties online at:
Rightmove: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/
Zoopla:http://www.zoopla.co.uk/
Prime Location:http://www.primelocation.com/
On the Market:  http://www.onthemarket.com/

Help to buy scheme
The Government’s new Help to Buy scheme now makes it possible to buy a new or existing home with just a 5% deposit.
Visit: http://www.helptobuy.gov.uk/There is lots of information to help you, but make sure you are using reliable, independent sources.

If you’re homeless, or at risk of homelessness, get help as quickly as possible.

District councils in Devon
If you are homeless, speak to your district council, if you meet certain criteria your council will have a statutory duty to provide help. Use the Gov.uk council finder to find out which district council you need to contact

Visit:http://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council

Shelter have also  produced a guide which explains how to ask the council for help if you’re homeless now or might become homeless in the next 8 weeks:

Visit: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness

Homeless support

Many more organisations can support people who are homeless or vulnerably housed.

Shelter Devon:

Service offered
Advice and specialist help for anyone with a housing or housing related problem. Drop-in service providing assistance on a wide range of housing and homelessness issues.

Who do we help?
Anyone with a housing or housing related problem.

Phone 0344 515 2399 Email devon@shelter.org.uk or Visit: https://www.homeless.org.uk/homeless-england/service/shelter-devon

SSAFA

Life after the Forces can be challenging. At SSAFA, we know that some veterans find themselves on the streets, whether due to mental health, financial or relationship problems. We have developed specialist services to support them.

Our network of volunteers provide welfare services across the country

If you are ex-Forces and Homeless, or you know someone who is, please get in touch using the form below.https://www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/welfare-and-benefits/support-for-homeless-veterans

You can get support tailored to you as an armed forces service leaver from SSAFA.
Phone:  01392 254 611
Email: devon@ssafa.org.uk
Visit:    https://www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/welfare-and-benefits/support-for-homeless-veterans

 

Exeter City Council Outreach Team

Officer and volunteers help people sleeping rough in exeter. They can offer practical help including help with getting in to emergency accommodation and help to access health services.
Phone: 01392 284287 or 01392 277888.

St Petrock’s Exeter

Exeter’s charity for people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. They can provide emergency support and help you get into permanent accommodation.
Phone: 01392 217550
Visit: stpetrocks.org.uk
Drop in: St. Petrocs (Exeter) Ltd. 10 Cathedral Yard Exeter EX1 1HJ

Plymouth Path

This charity supports people who are homeless or vulnerably housed in Plymouth, Teignbridge and Exeter. They can help if you are rough sleeping, if you need to help to stay in your home and can help you to find accommodation.
Phone Plymouth: 01752 255889
Phone Teignbridge: 01626 215374
Phone Exeter: 01392 491286
Email: info@pathdevon.org
Visit: www.plymouthpath.org
Drop in: Plymouth Path, Harwell Centre, 28-42 Harwell Court, Western Approach, Plymouth PL1 1PY.

If you are looking for help with your situation you can contact The Veterans Gateway on
0808 802 1212 or text 81212. Advice and support for veterans and ex-forces available here.