Sofa surfing how can I rent with help

StevieBurt

Am 58 and have left marital council home due to split and threat of violence by wifes son. Been previously assaulted by him. Have some dwindling cash but I claim no benefits. Am sofa surfing but this wont last, what could I rent with the help of housing benefit? I would prefer to live near older people and not big estate with teenagers.

RAS

Are you working?

If not please sign on for JSA urgently.

Check out the Local Housing Allowance for a one person flat/house on your local area on the Council web-site. That is the maximum rent that LHA will pay.

Put your detals into https://www.turn2us.org.uk

Heycock

Get yourself on your local housing list immediately. As you are currently voluntary homeless you will be in a middle priority band. Depending on your area there may even be some 1 bedroom properties immediately available.
For example, on Merseyside's combined LA social housing list (Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley and Halton) there are, this week alone, 33 one bed flats available for IMMEDIATE occupation. Mostly a mixture of converted Victorian mansions and high rises but i know where most of them are and alot of them are OK. Point is, if you're on the list you can pick up the keys near enough immediately. 1st come 1st served.
Other areas (poss not South-east?) may have similar schemes.
Thing is, if you get on HB your rent will almost certainly be covered 100% as long as you stick to your one bed entitlement.
In the private sector, LHA rates for one bed will cover many properties of the same type...big old houses split into often big flats in terms of floor space. your problem in the private sector will be finding a landlord who will accept you as a homeless person.
Your LA is your best bet.

lighting_up_the_chalice

You should seek advice and assistance from your local authority (or whoever administers their statutory homeless function). Fleeing violence is a possible reason for homelessness because the accommodation is no longer reasonable for you to reside in. It's also a priority in itself. However, even if they are unable to establish the risk and deem it reasonable for you to live there, they may well have a policy for dealing with relationship breakdowns which gives you a "reasonable preference" on whatever allocations system they use. They may also be able to help with bonds, rent up front, temporary accommodation (if needed) and other housing related issues you may not have even considered.