Homeless services

Our main role is to prevent homelessness, and our ability to do this is improved if we are given the opportunity to intervene sooner rather than later. Please do not wait until you are actually homeless before contacting us.

We may be able to offer advice and assistance which allows you to remain in your home, or we may be able to help you find alternative accommodation in the private sector, helping you with a rent deposit, if necessary.

Housing advice

If you are a Private tenant, Housing Association tenant or Homeowner and need quality housing advice our housing advice service can help you with a range of issues such as landlord and tenant issues, your rights to stay in your home, housing debt (mortgage/rent arrears), housing options (hostels, housing projects, low-cost home ownership, private renting, etc).

If we cannot prevent you becoming homeless or are unable to find you a new home, then we may provide you with temporary accommodation if you are in one of the following groups:

• Have dependent children
• Have someone in their household who is expecting a child
• Children aged 16 or 17
• Young people under 21, who were ‘looked after’ or fostered anytime
• between the ages of 16 and 17
• Are vulnerable due to old age, mental illness or handicap, physical
• disability, institutionalisation, violence or threatened of violence, or some other special reason
• Are homeless due to fire, flood or some other emergency

Remember that we are responding to a crisis situation. We therefore have to rely on using Bed & Breakfast hotels and properties outside of the Borough’s boundaries. Typically, these can be of a size smaller than your ideal requirement.

The severe housing shortage usually means 2 or more years in temporary accommodation. We realise the difficulties this can cause with schooling, employment etc. This is why we always try to prevent homelessness.

Remember that homelessness is not a fast-track to a Council tenancy - your waiting list application registration date will not change.

How to contact us

In the first instance, it is best to telephone us. We will take brief details and advise you of how we propose to deal with your situation. If you cannot telephone, then we will see you at our office.

Homeless Service
62 Roman Road
Bethnal Green
London E2 0PG

Tel: 020 7364 7474
Fax: 020 7364 7222
E-mail: homeless@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Opening hours:

Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4pm

Nearest tube station: Bethnal Green

Nearest bus routes:

• 8, D6 (Roman Road)
• 309 (Globe Road)
• 106, 254 (Cambridge Heath Road)

If you cannot get to our office due to serious illness or disability, please telephone 020 7364 7474, we may be able to arrange for someone to visit you.

If you have any other specific needs or disabilities, we will do all we can to make the service available to you.

Pid No: 103, 112