Duty to refer

Helping People Who Might Lose Their Home

Since 1 October 2018, some public services must tell the council if they think someone might lose their home in the next 56 days. These services include:

• Prisons
• Youth centres and teams
• Probation services
• Jobcentre Plus
• Social services
• Hospitals and emergency departments
• The Army, Navy, and Air Force

If you work for one of these services and want to tell us about someone who needs help, please use our online system called ALERT.

👉 Important: If the person is a victim of domestic abuse, please say if they live with the person who hurt them, and when it’s safe to contact them.

What is ALERT?

ALERT is a free and safe way to send us information. It helps us work together to support people who need housing help.

If you can’t use ALERT, you can email us at:
📧 dutytorefer@tendringdc.gov.uk
Please include as much information as you can about the person.

You can also find a simple form and more help on:
🌐 www.gov.uk

What Happens Next?
We will look at the referral and contact the person within 5 working days. If they are homeless or might lose their home soon, we will offer them an appointment to talk more. If they are not homeless, we will still give them advice and help.

More Information:

• Guide for agencies using ALERT
• Gov.uk – Duty to Refer guide