If you have not had an appointment with the Housing Options team to make a homeless appointment, you cannot be awarded additional priority, as they will not have assessed whether you are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days. 

To make an appointment with the Housing Options team you can ring 01524 582257 or you can call into LTH or MTH or you can self-refer here. 

Ideal Choice Homes cannot change your banding for you being homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days, unless a member of the Housing Options team has requested this.  

If you have spoken to the team and you have been assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness, you will need to ask them why they have not requested additional priority to be added to your ICH application. 

Ideal Choice Homes cannot change your banding unless a member of the Housing Options team has requested this. You will need to speak to your Housing Options Officer.

We would advise that if you should be in Band B, then it is better to be in Band B. This is because most properties (75%) are advertised with priority to 'Band A' and 'Band B'.

You will have a Housing Plan from your Housing Options Officer, so we would advise that you refer to this. If you need temporary accommodation you will need to speak to them.

Ideal Choice Homes cannot change homeless priority (your band) on an application without being asked to do so by the Housing Options team. Ideal Choice Homes cannot arrange temporary accommodation either or make a referral to a supported housing scheme. All we can do is advise that you keep bidding on any suitable properties advertised and continue looking at all your housing options. 

Unfortunately, we currently have very high demand and very few properties to advertise via the Ideal Choice Homes website. Although we try to make direct offers of accommodation to applicants who have not been successful with bidding after two weeks, this is not always possible. Please carry on bidding on properties advertised and when we can make a direct offer of accommodation, we will.

If you are in immediate danger, phone 999, or get someone else to phone, and state whether you need the police, ambulance or fire service. Move to a safe place, avoiding kitchens or stairs, and stay near a door for a quick escape. If in doubt, get out. If the situation is not an emergency, but you still need the police, call 101. 

We would advise that you make contact with the Homeless Prevention Team on 01524 582257 who can provide you with advice and assistance or alternatively you can complete an online referral into their service through Lancaster City Council's website here. 

If you need general advice, information or support: 

·        Phone the National Domestic Violence Helpline 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247 to get help to access a Refuge space and for advice and support. 

·        Male victims of abuse can get help and advice from Respect, the domestice abuse helpline for men, or call 0808 801 0327. 

If you are in immediate danger, phone 999, or get someone else to phone, and state whether you need the police, ambulance or fire service. Move to a safe place, avoiding kitchens or stairs, and stay near a door for a quick escape. If in doubt, get out. If the situation is not an emergency, but you still need the police, call 101.

We would advise that you make contact with the Homeless Prevention Team on 01524 582257 who can provide you with advice and assistance or alternatively you can complete an online referral into their service through Lancaster City Council's website here. 

You can update your application with your current circumstances and provide supporting documentation, e.g. letter from Police, and this will be assessed in line with our Allocation Policy. Ideal Choice Homes cannot provide temporary accommodation for you. If you are a social housing tenant, you can contact your landlord and speak to them requesting an emergency management move.