Know your housing rights as a new refugee
Received a positive asylum decision? Are you a newly granted refugee or just been given leave to remain? Have you receive a letter from Mears Group telling you to leave your accommodation? Then read this briefing.
If you have just received a positive asylum decision, are a newly granted refugee, or have just been given leave to remain and receive a letter from Mears Group telling you to leave your accommodation, you have the legal right to remain in your home and refuse to leave without a court order telling you that you must leave.
Mears must get an eviction order from the court telling you that you must leave before they can force you to leave.you should be notified of the court date and have the right to explain your situation in court.
Until then, you can remain in your asylum accommodation.
Your local authority also has a duty to provide temporary homeless accommodation for you and any family members.
To find your local authority you can type in the postcode of your address here.
If you are an asylum seeker and received a negative decision about your asylum case contact Migrant Help on 0808 801 0503 who can advise you on applying for asylum support.
If you have an eviction case hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court, you can get legal representation from the Legal Service Agency.
They have a staffed help desk available every Wednesday from 9:30am to 10:30am and 1:30pm to 2:30pm when eviction cases are heard.
If you're at Glasgow Sheriff Court for your eviction case hearing, simply ask a member of staff to guide you to the 'Legal Service Agency helpdesk'. For more information, visit this page.
If you require immigration advice for your asylum case you can find legal firms near you from this online directory from the Law Society of Scotland: https://www.lawscot.org.uk/find-a-solicitor/
Below are some councils and resources for their homeless service that might be useful to you.
Glasgow City Council
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/homelessness
Aberdeen City Council
https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/housing/homelessness/homelessness-advice-and-support
Falkirk Council
https://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/homes-property/homelessness/
Stirling Council
https://www.stirling.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/#homeless-or-at-risk-of-homelessness-1
Inverclyde Council (Greenock)
https://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/mental-health-addictions-homelessness/homelessness
Perth and Kincross
https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/18670/Advice-for-people-who-are-or-become-homeless
Last updated 23 July 2024