Housing Solicitors

Birmingham City Council is expected to approve changes in the city’s housing advice service at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (19/04/16), which will build on the success of the city’s Youth Hub.

Youth Hub is a specialist homeless service for single young people under 25.
The council is reducing the number of Housing Advice Centres and pooling resources to create a similar centre of excellence for homelessness and housing advice for the over-25s.

The council will also provide a one-stop shop in partnership with Shelter at SIFA’s building in Digbeth to cater for vulnerable single homeless people. The facility will offer housing and benefits advice, support to find accommodation – and welfare facilities such as food, showering facilities and clothing.

Users of the centre will also have access to onsite health services, such as dentists, mental health assessments, chiropody and opticians.

Integrated Service Head Homeless and Pre-Tenancy Services, Jim Crawshaw, said:

“The new centre will have staff who are able to provide advice and assistance on welfare benefits and debt to households in housing need.

“This will refocus the service, providing comprehensive support to homeless households from one central location.

“By having one centre, we can also ensure a consistent service with more appointments and an improved level of service.

“We have had great success with our Youth Hub for the under-25s – this new centre will provide for the over-25s.

“Some people have raised concerns over accessibility, safety and capacity –
we have listened to those concerns and will be enhancing access to phone advice and information on the council’s website, to ensure households only travel to the advice centre if absolutely necessary.

“We will also provide help with transport and make arrangements to conduct interviews in a safe location for households, if they are unable to visit Newtown because of concerns like domestic violence.

“In addition, we are also providing a one-stop shop for vulnerable single homeless, with people on hand to give advice, offer welfare facilities and access to healthcare.”

The council says the changes to housing advice centres are part of a much wider, overarching strategy for all elements of Neighbourhood Advice and Information Services.

Together, the services will provide a homeless centre, four third-sector advice hubs, two letting suites and a library, with advice staff in ten locations across the city.

The integrated advice strategy has been led by a partnership of advice providers known as Gateway to Birmingham Advice Services (GBAS) – a partnership of 15 organisations providing advice services in the city, including CAB, Freshwinds, Birmingham Settlement, Shelter and Age UK.

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise on a wide range of housing law, including advising on homelessness, Local Authority housing and council’s obligation to re-house.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across the UK and our housing team are also able to advise on:

• Conveyancing services
• Debt management for homeowners
• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Housing possession
• Landlords’ obligations
• Landlord and tenant disputes
• Lease extensions
• Mortgage repossession
• Notice to quit
• Nuisance neighbours
• Right to Buy
• Right to Rent checks
• Tenancy agreements
• Unlawful eviction.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.