Shelter

The Legal Team are now open for new referrals, except defending possession proceedings where there are allegations of Anti-Social Behaviour,  the Court Desk is open as normal so any case that has a court date can receive one off advice on the day of the hearing at the court. clients just need to attend with their documents on the day of the hearing where a legal adviser will be available. At Shelter Norfolk, we have changed the ways that people get in touch with us for help on our main Norfolk Advice line. The new number is 03301 755 121. For people needing advice:

•  We are asking people to use our extensive online resources at Get help from Shelter - Shelter England- Shelter England in the first instance, which has all you need to know and more about housing advice! We know this won’t work for some people.

•  People who live in the Kings Lynn and West Norfolk DC area only can also call 0344 515 1558 to speak to the local advice team.

Current referral criteria on the NCAN referral system: SERVICE OFFER: We offer specialist housing advice including evictions and homelessness. We also offer accredited debt advice. Advocacy and representation are available at court. PLEASE READ OUR CRITERIA BELOW BEFORE REFERRING— Many general housing issues are addressed by self-help guides on our website shelter.org.uk which is full of detailed template letters and advice e.g., about how to get a deposit back. (We cannot accept cases about how to initially join housing lists, and questions around deposit protection and low-level disrepair issues – please refer to our Website/Webchat/Helpline instead) CURRENT CRITERIA: Legal Aid cases: Shelter’s legal team can do Legal Aid work for eligible clients, but this is subject to capacity and the nature of the issue. Please refer in cases related to homelessness applications and Homelessness Decisions, also court rent possession/evictions cases, but be aware we may need to signpost elsewhere if not in scope or due to capacity. –Debt Advice for Clients with Housing related Debt, rent arrears, Council Tax arrears, Utility Bills. –We no longer offer a Social Prescribing service –Housing Advice cases for written Housing Allocation Banding or Qualification Decisions, and complex Housing or Homelessness cases (subject to capacity and merit of case).