For urgent advice please call our expert housing advice helpline on 0345 075 5005
Please note the telephone advice service operates between 9.30am – 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Homelessness
You don’t have to be living on the street to be homeless. You may be sleeping on a friend’s sofa, staying in a hostel, or living in overcrowded or unsuitable accommodation. This section explains what homelessness is, how it can be avoided, how you can get help and what to do if you’re sleeping rough.
Finding a place to live
Whether you need emergency housing or want to buy your own place, it’s important to find somewhere that suits your needs. This section explains the different options available to you and gives you an idea of the rights you would have in each type of accommodation.
Renting
If you rent your home, your rights and responsibilities will depend on what sort of tenancy you have, and if you share your home with a partner or other people. Find out here about your tenancy agreement, your rights, your responsibilities and those of your landlord.
Paying for housing
Housing problems often begin because of financial difficulties. This section explains what help there is to pay for housing, including Housing Benefit, and includes information about tenancy deposits (bonds) and what to do if you fall in to arrears with your rent. Whatever your situation, you should get advice immediately if you are having problems paying for your accommodation.
Families and relationships
Whether they are family members, your husband, wife or civil partner, an opposite sex or same-sex partner, living with other people can sometimes be complicated. If something goes wrong, your rights will vary depending on the legal status of your relationship and whether you own or rent your home. Take a look at this section to find out what you can do.
Repairs and bad conditions
This section provides information about the rights you have if your rented home needs repairs. It also explains what you can do if you are worried about safety, or your home has become unsuitable for you.
Eviction
If you are being evicted, the sooner you seek advice the better. All landlords have to follow special legal procedures in order to evict tenants. These procedures depend on the type of tenancy you have. This section explains the eviction procedures and also explains what you can do if you think you have been unlawfully evicted.
Mortgages
This section provides basic information about mortgage options. It also explains what you can do if you can’t pay your mortgage or if you are already in arrears, including information on Mortgage Rescue schemes and Sale & Rent back options.
Shelter Cymru cannot give financial advice – a financial adviser or mortgage broker can help you to understand all of the different options.
Mortgage repossession
If you are struggling to pay your mortgage, are in arrears and/or are facing repossession then it is important to seek advice immediately. Repossession doesn’t happen automatically and it may be possible to stop the process at any stage. Have a look at these pages to see what your options are.
Advice for young people
Shelter Cymru is working with young people to raise awareness on homelessness and housing problems. Find out more about our Education service and how we provide information about housing and related issues to young people in the Early Prevention section
Money advice
We’re working with the Money Advice Service to help people with their money problems and housing issues. In this section you will find some money management tools and also lots of advice on benefits, such as Universal Credit and Budgeting Loans, and energy saving tips.
Advice near you
Our expert advisers provide free, independent, specialist housing and debt advice to anyone who needs it – no matter what your situation. Shelter Cymru has a contract with the Legal Aid Agency so, where eligible, the advice can be given under the legal aid scheme Select your local area to check when our advisers are near you.
Free resources
In this section you will find a number of resources that you can download and print off to help you with your problem. These include interactive sample letters which you can save, complete with your own details and print out
Useful links
In this section you will find a number of useful links to other organisations that may be able to help you with your problem. These include organisations for older people, young people and people with dependencies.
We are sorry that we cannot provide this information in Welsh, however if you would like to speak to an adviser in Welsh please contact 0345 075 5005.
Please note the telephone advice service operates between 9.30am – 4.30pm. You can also email Shelter Cymru and an adviser will respond to your emails within five working days.
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