Relief duty

If you are eligible for our help and have no housing, you will be owed a relief duty.

About the relief duty

The relief duty is the duty we have to help eligible people in Birmingham who we are satisfied are homeless secure accommodation.

What happens during the relief duty

During the relief duty, your caseworker will explore a range of housing options to try to find you other housing that you can live in for at least 6 months.

If we decide that we owe you a relief duty and think you have a priority need for housing help, we will make you an offer of temporary housing. This is if you have nowhere suitable and safe to stay while we find you more permanent housing.

If you have somewhere to stay temporarily while you are homeless, you can still be owed a relief duty.

If you refuse a suitable offer of housing during this time, then we may not have any further duty to house you.

Personalised housing plan

As part of the relief duty, your caseworker will develop a personalised housing plan with you. This will include actions that they will take to support you and actions that you need to take to try and secure housing for your household.

How long the relief duty lasts

The relief duty normally ends after 56 days (8 weeks). If you have not been able to secure housing by this time, an assessment will be undertaken to see what further duties we owe to you.

If you have no housing

Speak with a housing adviser today

If you are aged 25 or over, or are aged 18 to 25 and have dependent children, phone 0121 303 7410 option 3. Our phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

If you and your partner (if you have one) are under 25 years old and have no children, then you will need to attend the St Basils Youth Hub instead. You can phone them on 0300 303 0099.

Page last updated: 16 May 2023