Organisations that can help & other useful contact details

Help with a move to an area of low demand

London Councils - Most of the 32 London councils have schemes that they operate to help people living in their area move out of London. They can help you get details of the type of homes that are available in a particular area and arrange for you to go and visit. Some of them will pay your fare to go and view a home. If you decide to go ahead with the move the council into whose area you are moving might be able to help you with getting training or a job.

This type of help only applies if you are wanting to move to an area of low demand (click on Council or HA to find out where those areas are). The local Housing Advice Centre should be able to tell you how the scheme operates in the part of London in which you live and whether you are eligible to apply. If you live in London you can find these by clicking on www.homelesslondon.org.uk or from the council's website which can be found by clicking on www.oultwood.com/localgov/uk.

HOMES - This scheme has details of properties managed by councils or housing associations around the country that are vacant and can be let to someone from outside the area. It includes details of retirement or sheltered housing. A photograph and details of each property are usually available. When you find one that you like you can apply directly to the landlord. The landlord then makes a decision about who to let the home to. Not all landlords use this service and it does not hold details of all vacancies available to let in an area, so you may not always find properties in the area you are interested in.

You can either search for properties by clicking on www.availablehomes.org.uk or, if you don't have internet access, you can phone the helpline on 0845 080 1089 (calls are charged at local rates). The service is free.

Elderly accommodation council - This organisation has a website which you can browse for free to find details of sheltered housing across the country and where there are currently vacancies. Click on www.housingcare.org.uk.

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Help with a move to an area where you have a local connection or another good reason to move there

HOMES mobility scheme - This scheme can help you move to a new area if you have a good reason to want to live there. This might be because:

• you are taking up a job or course that is too far to travel to from your present home
• you need to be closer to relatives to give or receive support
• there is another pressing reason - such as a need to escape harassment or domestic violence.

You'll first need to register on your own council's housing register (click on Council or HA for details of how to do that) and then ask the council to nominate you for the HOMES mobility scheme. Getting a move through this scheme is not guaranteed and will be more difficult in areas (such as London) where there is a lot of demand for council and HA homes.

Elderly accommodation council - This organisation has a website which you can browse for free to find details of sheltered housing across the country and where there are currently vacancies. Click on www.housingcare.org.uk.

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Help with applying for council or HA accommodation after you leave London

If you are living in a hostel or temporary supported housing at the moment you could ask your support worker or resettlement worker to help you find the contact details for organisations in the area you want to move to that can help. Many hostels have access to the UK Advice Finder service, which lists details of advice agencies across the country.

The local housing advice service - To find out your chances of being able to get a council or HA after you have already moved to an area you could phone the Housing Advice Centre in the area you want to move to. Details of these are usually available from the council into whose area you want to move. Website addresses and contact details for councils around the country can be found by clicking on www.oultwood.com/localgov/uk.

Hostels in the area you want to move to - If you are thinking of living in a hostel when you first move, you could ask them about your chances of getting a council or HA flat in their area. They will usually have a good knowledge of the local housing scene and might be able to help you with applications.

Elderly accommodation council - This organisation has a website which you can browse for free to find details of sheltered housing across the country and where there are currently vacancies. Click on www.housingcare.org.uk.

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Help for young people wanting to move back home

The Magnet Project - This project is part of Alone In London and helps those between 16 and 30 who originally came from outside London and who might be interested in returning back to their original area. It can help you arrange housing, a job or training. It also provides a family mediation service to help you re-establish contact with and sort out differences with family. Some limited financial help is also available to help you with the move, for instance your train fare. The service is free and based in Kings Cross and a number of projects used by young people in central London.

To discuss whether you might be able to use the service contact Monica Beedle at Alone in London on 020 7278 4486.

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Details of landlords and property agents outside of London

Details of landlords and property agents in the area you are interested in can be found by clicking on the blue links below:

• www.oultwood.com/localgov/uk - for contact details for councils across the country
• www.housingcorp.gov.uk - This website provides a list of housing associations by area and type. When you get into the website click on 'Resources' and then 'Public Register of Social Landlords' (to go direct to the page, click here). If you want to find a list of housing associations which offer low cost home ownership in the area you are interested in, then contact the local office of the Housing Corporation (the contact details for which are on their website)
• www.housingnet.co.uk - This website lists housing associations by area
• www.housingcare.org.uk has details of sheltered housing across the country and also holds details of current vacancies
• www.rightmove.co.uk, fish4.co.uk/homes and www.propertyfinder.co.uk are all websites that can give you information on properties to rent and buy and details of local lettings agencies and estate agencies to contact.

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Information on jobs and training

Some websites that cover employment or training across the country include:

• www.worktrain.gov.uk - info on jobs, courses and local childcare
• www.hotcourses.com - Advice on courses and details of careers centres across the UK
• www.totaljobs.com - Has details of jobs across the country and enables you to search by location
• www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk - Details of jobs and local job centres, together with advice and help in getting a job
• www.learndirect.co.uk - information on courses nationwide, and help in choosing a course or career. You can ring the Learn Direct advice line for free on 0800 100 900.

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Finding out more about the area you are thinking of moving to

Many council websites have information on the area they cover and other useful local organisations. To find the website address for the council which covers the area you are interested in click on www.oultwood.com/localgov/uk.

The following websites can also give you general details about the area you are thinking of moving to:

• www.upmystreet.co.uk gives you information on local property prices, services, schools, crime rates, childcare, entertainment, etc.
• www.housingnet.co.uk gives you information on social housing and private housing, jobs and general information about the area you are thinking of moving to.

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Click on these links to reach different parts of the website:
Private renting - Council or housing association - Buying your own home
Hostels - Jobs with accommodation - Moving out of London
What's right for me? - Help - Contacts & info - Go back to the start