Many tenants in Wales worry about eviction, rent arrears or sudden housing problems. The Crisis Prevention Duty gives local authorities a chance to provide early housing help and stop homelessness before it starts. This guide explains what tenants should expect, which forms to use, key deadlines, and how to present evidence to a housing officer. It covers your rights if you are at risk, when to contact the council, and what support may be available, including temporary accommodation and prevention plans. Practical steps, examples and links to the official forms and tribunal information are included so renters can act quickly and confidently when housing problems arise.
What is the Crisis Prevention Duty?
The Crisis Prevention Duty is a legal duty on local authorities to take early, practical steps to prevent people becoming homeless. In practice this means housing officers should offer advice, mediation, negotiation with landlords, referral to financial or tenancy support, and a prevention plan tailored to your situation. The duty aims to stop a housing problem turning into an eviction or street homelessness by intervening at an earlier stage.
Key steps and official forms
When you contact the council you will normally complete their homelessness application or give a clear account of your situation. Two official routes tenants should know are the initial homelessness application to the local authority and the review/appeal process if you disagree with a decision.
- Form: Local authority homelessness application (no central form number). Use this to record your threatened homelessness, rent arrears or eviction risk. Example: if your landlord has given notice and you have no alternative, complete the council application and provide copies of the notice, correspondence and rent records; the council will open a prevention enquiry and advise next steps. See how to apply on GOV.UK: apply for homelessness assistance[1]
- Form: Request a review of a homelessness decision (no standard national form). If you disagree with the councils decision about duties owed, ask the authority for an internal review and follow its published process; if still unhappy you may be able to take your case to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). Example: if the council says you are not eligible, request a review in writing, include copies of evidence and ask for reasons in writing. See the tribunal information below.[3]
How the process works in practice
A typical sequence when you ask for help:
- Contact the housing options or homelessness team at your local council immediately and explain you are at risk of losing your home.
- Provide evidence: tenancy agreement, rent statements, notices, photos or messages that support your claim.
- Work with the officer on a prevention plan; follow any tasks or deadlines agreed so the council can record efforts to prevent homelessness.
The Crisis Prevention Duty sits alongside primary housing legislation such as the Housing Act 1988 which sets out many landlords and tenants rights and obligations; for the statutory framework see the Act text on legislation.gov.uk[2].
How-To
- Contact your local councils housing options or homelessness team as soon as you know you are at risk of losing your home; ask for early housing help and explain your situation clearly.
- Gather evidence: tenancy agreement, rent payment records, notices from landlord, photos and any messages that show the problem.
- Complete the councils homelessness application or provide the information they request; ask for a written record of the prevention plan.
- Keep to any agreed deadlines in the prevention plan and attend meetings; stay in contact with the housing officer and update them if circumstances change.
- If you disagree with a decision, request an internal review in writing and gather the paper trail; if necessary, pursue an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
FAQ
- Who is eligible for early housing help?
- Tenants who are at risk of losing their home in the near future, including those facing eviction, serious rent arrears or an unsafe property, should be offered early housing help by the local authority.
- How quickly should the council act?
- Councils are expected to act without undue delay and to record and agree prevention steps with you. Timescales depend on the case, so contact your housing options team promptly and keep copies of communications.
- What if I disagree with the councils decision?
- Ask the council for an internal review in writing and include any new evidence. If the review does not resolve the issue you may be able to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
Help and Support / Resources
- Welsh Government: Homelessness guidance and local authority duties
- Rent Smart Wales (landlord regulation and tenant support information)
- Find your local council (contact housing options)
