• If you want to live in a particular area because of work, college, family or friends, make this very clear when you apply. Try to give three areas you would be happy to live in to increase your chances.
  
  
• It is not unusual for young people to get offered the worst places in the worst areas. Ask how many offers they will make and how many you can turn down before you lose your place on the waiting list.
  
  
• If you need extra support, tell the housing officer. You might get offered supported accommodation or tenancy support.
  
  
• If you have a disability the Council Housing Department can make alterations to a place so make sure that you tell them when you apply.
  
  
• If there is no housing in the areas you want you could be offered a place somewhere else. This can be tempting but accepting this could be a big mistake if you end up lonely and depressed in a flat miles from your friends.

Other housing options

Unfurnished Flat - there are sometimes empty flats available immediately. Find out why no-one else wants to live there, is it the area or the condition of the place?

Furnished Flats - some Councils and housing associations offer furnished flats to people getting their first house. The rent will be higher so check that Housing Benefit will cover this. Sometimes they will offer you the option of buying the furniture in instalments. Housing Benefit will NOT pay this.

If you get work or go to college and stop receiving benefit you may have to meet the extra rent yourself. This is a complicated area so get advice from a worker.

Supported Accommodation - this means that you get help from support workers while you are living in the accommodation. It can be a visit once a week or someone living there all the time. It may be a shared house with other young people also receiving support.

Supported accommodation is not available in all areas and there's often a waiting list. If you feel you need this sort of support ask someone to help you to write down why on the application form as it can be difficult to know what to say.

Supported accommodation costs more than other tenancies so you need to find out what help there is to pay the higher rent. If you get work or go to college and stop receiving benefit you may have to meet the extra rent yourself. This is a complicated area so get advice from a worker.

Affording a place	Benefits
Leaving care	Furniture

Simon, 18

It can take ages to get offered a place so you need to be sure you don't lose your place on the waiting list by turning offers down. Check how many offers you can refuse – in some areas you might only get one.

If you don't want to take a place tell the housing officer your reasons for turning it down. Remind them of all the areas you said you could live in when you applied.

If you are not at risk in the place you are living it is better to wait until the right offer comes along. This way when you do get your own place you will be able to make a real success of it.

Other housing options

You can call Shelter's free housing advice helpline on 0808 800 444 to talk about your rights and options.