This service is managed by Housing and Homelessness
Homelessness support
Homelessness can happen to anyone. We supported 161 homeless households during 2025/26, and we have a legal duty to provide advice and assistance to anyone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
You must be aged 16 or over to present as homeless. If you are under 16, we will refer you to Orkney Health and Care for appropriate support.
If you are homeless or think you may become homeless, contact us as soon as possible. You do not have to wait until you are actually homeless.
What counts as homelessness?
What counts as homelessness?
You are homeless if:
- You have no accommodation, or you and your family have nowhere to stay together
- It is not reasonable for you to stay in your home, for example because of its condition
- You have accommodation but cannot gain entry to it, for example because the landlord has changed the locks
- Living there could lead to violence or threats of violence, for example from a former partner or someone living with you
- You have a moveable home such as a caravan but nowhere to put it
- Your home is so overcrowded it is affecting your health
- Your accommodation has been provided by us only temporarily
You are threatened with homelessness if you will become homeless within two months.
What happens when you contact us?
What happens when you contact us?
All discussions with our Homelessness and Advice Section are confidential and will take place in a private interview room. You have the right to bring a friend, relative or support worker with you, and to be interviewed by an officer of the same sex as yourself.
If you have nowhere to stay, you will be offered emergency accommodation straight away and a homeless interview the same day, or the next working day if you contact us out of hours.
If you have somewhere to stay temporarily, you will be offered an interview within three working days.
The interview takes around 45 minutes. To help us consider your circumstances, it is useful to bring:
- Evidence of your income, such as payslips or benefit award letters
- Evidence of any children in your household, such as birth certificates or Child Benefit letters
- Evidence of your National Insurance number
- Identification, such as a passport, driving licence or birth certificate
- A copy of your tenancy agreement or notice to quit, if relevant
If you cannot bring any of these documents, come in anyway.
How do you asses my application?
How do you asses my application?
When you apply as homeless, we consider four main questions:
Are you intentionally homeless?
You may be considered intentionally homeless if you deliberately did, or failed to do, something that led to you losing your home, for example being evicted due to rent arrears you could afford to pay. We will always consider whether the accommodation you lost was reasonable for you to occupy.
Do you have a local connection with Orkney?
If your last settled residence was in Scotland, you can present to any Scottish council. If it was in England or Wales, you may be referred back to that area in certain circumstances.
A local connection may be established if you:
- Have lived in Orkney for at least 6 months out of the last 12 months, or 3 years out of the last 5 years
- Have employment in Orkney
- Have close relatives in Orkney
- Have other special reasons, such as medical or support needs
You do not need a local connection if you are fleeing domestic abuse.
What will we do?
- If you are found to be unintentionally homeless with a local connection, we have a duty to offer you permanent accommodation.
- If you are found to be intentionally homeless, we will offer temporary accommodation, usually for around 28 days.
- If you do not have a local connection with Orkney, you may be entitled to permanent accommodation in another area.
You have the right to appeal any decision we make on your application, and any offer of accommodation made to you.
What do you do to prevent homelessness?
What do you do to prevent homelessness?
We have a statutory duty to prevent and alleviate homelessness and to make free advice and assistance available to everyone in Orkney, whether or not they are already homeless.
Common reasons people lose their home include relationship or family breakdown, job loss, domestic abuse and mental health difficulties. Whatever your situation, contact us as early as possible. The sooner we know, the more options we have to help prevent homelessness in the first place.
We work closely with a range of local agencies including:
- Orkney Citizens Advice Bureau (welfare rights and financial advice)
- Relationships Scotland and Women's Aid Orkney (domestic abuse outreach)
- Restart Orkney (furniture project)
- Kirkwall Council of Churches Starter Packs Scheme
We are accredited to the National Standard for Advice and Information Providers for our homelessness and housing advice services.
Can I get help with my housing costs?
Can I get help with my housing costs?
If you are struggling to meet your housing costs, the following sources of help may be available.
Benefits and financial support
If you are on a low income or claiming benefits, you may be entitled to help with your rent or other costs. For most working-age people, this is now paid through Universal Credit. Visit our benefits and financial support page for more information.
Discretionary Housing Payment
If you already receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit but still have a shortfall, you may be able to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP). In Scotland, DHPs are available to help with situations such as:
- Rent exceeding the Local Housing Allowance rate
- The bedroom tax reducing your entitlement
- The benefit cap reducing your housing support
- Help with a rent deposit or rent arrears
Contact us to apply or find out more.
Rent Deposit Scheme
If you are threatened with homelessness and need help with a rent deposit for a private let, our rent deposit scheme may be able to help. Contact us to apply or find out more.
Temporary accommodation
Temporary accommodation is usually a self-contained house or flat, fully furnished including bedding, crockery and cutlery. Bed and breakfast accommodation is occasionally used when no other option is available.
Rent for temporary accommodation is higher than for permanent council properties because they are furnished and decorated.
If we have a duty to provide you with permanent accommodation, you will remain in temporary accommodation until a suitable permanent home is offered to you. If we do not have a long-term duty, you will be offered temporary accommodation for a short period while you look for alternatives, with our advice and assistance throughout.
If you are unhappy with an offer of temporary accommodation, you have the right to appeal. Discuss this with your Housing Officer in the first instance.
Related resources
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Homelessness your temporary accommodation
This document contains information for people offered temporary accommodation by Orkney Islands Council, including the types and standard of housing available. It explains rent charges, help through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, and arrangements for pets and furniture. It also covers reporting problems, appealing an unsuitable offer and contacting Council services, Citizens Advice Bureau, Shelter and other organisations.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Temporary tenants' rights leaflet
This document contains a plain-language summary of temporary tenants’ rights when housing is provided through Orkney Islands Council’s homelessness service. It explains the two types of temporary tenancy, the Council’s duties, tenants’ rights and responsibilities, rent changes, repairs, notice periods and eviction rules. It also includes contact details for Council services, Citizens Advice Bureau and Shelter Scotland.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Offer of temporary accommodation appeal leaflet
This document contains a form for appealing an offer of temporary accommodation from Orkney Islands Council. It lists possible reasons, including unsuitable size, health needs, safety risks, location, or poor repairs, and asks applicants to explain their appeal. Appeals should be sent to the Head of Community Learning, Leisure and Housing at the Council’s Kirkwall office. Contact details are provided for Council Housing Services, Citizens Advice Bureau and Shelterline, which can offer further help.
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Condition of property on departure from temporary accommodation
This document contains guidance on leaving temporary accommodation when a tenancy ends. It explains pre-move-out inspections, minor repairs, cleaning, removing belongings and rubbish, and returning the property in good condition. It also covers possible charges for damage, cleaning, storage or disposal, and reminds tenants to arrange meter readings, mail redirection and changes to Council Tax and benefits. Contact details for Housing Services and related organisations are included.
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Permanent accommodation
If you are found to be unintentionally homeless, we have a duty to offer you permanent accommodation. This can be:
- A secure council tenancy
- A secure housing association tenancy
- A private residential tenancy
We will normally make one reasonable offer. If you are unsure about an offer, discuss it with your Housing Officer before making a decision. Refusing a reasonable offer may affect your entitlement to temporary accommodation and your priority for rehousing.
Once you move into temporary accommodation, you will be asked to complete a Housing Application Form, backdated to the date of your homeless interview. If you are assessed as unintentionally homeless, you will be given a Gold priority pass from the date of your decision.
You can choose up to four areas for permanent accommodation. Make sure you would genuinely accept an offer in every area you choose. You can change your area choices at any time by speaking to your Housing Officer.
Related resources
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Homelessness permanent accommodation
This document contains guidance for people assessed as homeless, unintentionally homeless and locally connected, who are entitled to an offer of permanent accommodation. It explains housing options, applications, priority, referrals, reasonable offers and appeals. It also covers rent, Housing Benefit and Universal Credit, pets, furniture and help with household items. Contact details are provided for Orkney Islands Council, housing organisations and other support services.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Offer of permanent accommodation appeal leaflet
This document contains a form for appealing an offer of permanent accommodation from Orkney Islands Council. It explains that appeals may be based on the property’s condition, size, health needs, safety risks or location, and asks applicants to give their reasons in writing. It also provides details for submitting the appeal and getting help from the Citizens Advice Bureau, Shelterline or the Council’s housing service.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Housing support
If we assess you as needing support to maintain your tenancy, we will refer you to our Housing Support Service. The aim is to support your independence, not to do things for you. Support will be increased or reduced as your circumstances change, always in discussion with you, and you can ask for it to be reintroduced at any time.
Support can include:
- Help claiming benefits and maximising income
- Budgeting and debt advice
- Assistance with rent arrears
- Help completing forms and attending appointments
- Assistance with tenancy issues such as reporting repairs
- Help finding training or employment
- Support with daily living and independence
If you are a council or OHAL tenant with a secure tenancy and would like housing support, contact your landlord to discuss this.
Related resources
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Housing support leaflet
This document contains information about Orkney Islands Council’s housing support services for tenants and people experiencing homelessness. It explains how support is assessed, including help with benefits, budgeting, cooking and tenancy responsibilities, and referrals to other organisations. It also describes supported accommodation for women fleeing domestic abuse and young people aged 16 to 25, including locations, support and expected stays. The leaflet outlines how residents can share views through surveys, focus groups, comments, complaints and compliments.
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Furniture and household items
Permanent council and OHAL tenancies are usually unfurnished. If you are claiming benefits, you may be entitled to a grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund. The two most common types are the Community Care Grant and Crisis Grant. You can apply through MyOrkney.
Assistance may also be available through local projects such as Restart Orkney or the Starter Pack Scheme. Ask your Housing Officer for more information and to make a referral on your behalf.
Related resources
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Storage leaflet
This document contains Orkney Islands Council’s policy for protecting and storing the belongings of homeless people moving into temporary accommodation. It explains when the Council must protect property, how storage and removal charges are worked out, storage limits, pet kennelling, and when belongings may be disposed of. It also outlines notice arrangements, complaints and other remedies if duties aren’t met, and how the policy is monitored and reviewed.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Appealing a decision
If you disagree with a decision we have made on your homeless application, you have the right to request a review within 21 days of the postmark date on your decision letter.
You can request a review if, for example, we have decided that you are not homeless, not in priority need, intentionally homeless, or that the accommodation offered to you is not suitable.
Your Housing Officer can explain the process and support you with your request. You can also seek independent help from Orkney Citizens Advice Bureau or Advocacy Orkney.
Related resources
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Homelessness appeals process
This document contains guidance on appealing Orkney Islands Council decisions about homelessness applications, including findings that someone isn’t homeless, is intentionally homeless or has no local connection. It explains how to submit the appeal form within 21 days, what information to include and when to expect a written decision. It also covers temporary accommodation during an appeal, judicial review and sources of independent advice.
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Judicial review
This document contains guidance on judicial review, a court process for checking whether the Council made a decision lawfully and fairly. It explains that judicial review is not an appeal and usually can’t change the decision itself, and that cases are heard in the Court of Session in Edinburgh. It also outlines when it may apply, the need for specialist legal advice, possible legal aid, complaints routes and useful contact details.
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Information leaflets and strategies
Related resources
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Homelessness charter
This document contains Orkney Islands Council’s charter for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It explains the help available, including emergency advice, housing support, interviews, legal information, appeals and help for people facing violence or abuse. It also sets out how staff will treat people, what behaviour is expected from service users, accessible information options and contact details for the Homelessness and Advice Service.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Homelessness dont know what to do
This document contains plain-language information about homelessness and the help available from Orkney Islands Council. It explains who may qualify for temporary or permanent housing, including people who are homeless unintentionally and have a local connection to Orkney. It also covers written decisions, reviews and help protecting belongings, with contact details for the Council and other advice, support and emergency services.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Homelessness general information
This document contains a plain-language guide to homelessness and the help available from Orkney Islands Council. It explains what it means to be homeless or at risk of losing your home, and outlines the legal conditions for permanent rehousing, including intentional homelessness and local connections. It also provides contact details for housing advice, including emergency support outside office hours.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Relationship breakdown leaflet
This document contains a plain-language guide to housing rights and options after a relationship breakdown. It covers married couples, civil partners and cohabiting partners in social housing, private tenancies and owner-occupied homes, including tenancy transfers, occupancy rights and decisions about the family home. It explains court orders and protections where abuse is involved, and lists local housing, advice, support and emergency contacts.
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Domestic abuse
This document contains information for people experiencing or threatened with domestic abuse. It explains how the Council can offer confidential, sensitive support, safe temporary accommodation and help with housing, while considering family, work and health needs. It also provides details of other support services and alternative formats. Contact the Orkney Islands Council Homelessness and Advice Service during office hours, or call the emergency number at any time.
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Violent profits leaflet
This document contains Orkney Islands Council’s policy on “violent profits”, a legal term for money the Council may claim when someone occupies its property unlawfully. It explains when claims may be made, including after a tenancy ends, during unauthorised use of temporary accommodation or in cases of squatting, and when claims won’t be made if extra time to move has been agreed. It also covers how the policy is monitored and reviewed.
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Homelessness complaints
This document contains guidance on making a complaint about Orkney Islands Council’s homelessness services, including what counts as a complaint and what should be dealt with as an appeal or service request. It explains how complaints are investigated and monitored, and outlines further options through the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman or the Care Inspectorate if you remain unhappy. It also lists sources of free advice and contact details for Housing Services and other organisations.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Your views homelessness
This document contains information about how Orkney Islands Council collects views from tenants and other service users through surveys, consultations, focus groups, complaints and appeals. It explains how feedback is used to review housing, temporary accommodation and access to health services, and improve support. Information and survey help are available in different formats, languages and with interpreters on request. Contact details for the Homelessness and Advice Section are included.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Service delivery plan leaflet
This document contains Orkney Islands Council’s Service Delivery Plan for homelessness, housing advice and information services. It explains who can use the free services, the advice available on issues such as homelessness, tenancy problems, domestic abuse and housing options, and how support is provided through the One Stop Shop, telephone and other locations. It also describes working with partner agencies and using customer feedback to improve services. The leaflet was updated in April 2021.
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Profile of homelessness 2023-2028
This document contains an overview of homelessness in Orkney for 2023 to 2028. It examines population, employment and housing trends, homelessness figures and causes, including relationship breakdown and families or friends being unable to provide accommodation. It also reviews consultation with people using services, temporary housing, prevention work and support from the Council and partner organisations. It identifies key challenges, including limited affordable housing, an ageing population and the need to improve early help.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Homelessness strategy 2023-2028
This document contains Orkney Islands Council’s Homelessness Strategy for 2023 to 2028. It explains homelessness in Orkney, including its causes, household needs, temporary accommodation, support services and access to settled homes. The strategy sets out actions to prevent homelessness, provide early advice, reduce time in temporary accommodation, improve housing options and support people to keep their homes, with progress monitored and reported each year.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.