Find your local council (GOV.UK)

Enter your postcode to find your local council's website, then look for the team you need: housing or homelessness if you have nowhere safe to stay; children's services if you are 16 or 17 and have to leave home; environmental health or private housing to report an unsafe rented home; adult social services (social work in Scotland) to ask for a care needs assessment or a carer's assessment; or council tax to ask for a payment plan or Council Tax Reduction.

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Good to know

In England, councils have powers to get repairs done at no cost to you and may help protect you from being evicted for complaining. If your landlord is the council itself, complain to it as your landlord instead. In Northern Ireland, use nidirect's list of local councils for environmental health about a rented home in poor repair. There, the Housing Executive, not the council, helps if you have nowhere to stay; your Health and Social Care Trust, not the council, does care needs and carer's assessments; and Land & Property Services, not the council, collects rates (0300 200 7801).

Before you call

Have ready

who lives with you, including children and anyone ill
about a rented home: the dates you told your landlord, and copies of your messages
about a rented home: photos or video of the problem
for a carer's assessment in England: your NHS number if you have one, your GP's name, address and phone number, and the name, address, date of birth and NHS number (if you have it) of the person you care for
for council tax: the account number and the date of your newest letter

They can

for a rented home: inspect a privately rented or housing association home and take action against the landlord
for adult social care: take a request for a care needs assessment, or a carer's assessment; in England the NHS says you can call or do it online, and the assessment is free
for council tax: take a request for a payment plan, including spreading the bill over more payments, and for a check on Council Tax Reduction and discounts

They cannot

act against itself if the council is your landlord: complain to it as your landlord
in Northern Ireland: do care assessments (your Health and Social Care Trust does), give homelessness help (the Housing Executive does), or take rates (Land & Property Services does)

In the emergency guides: I'm behind on my council tax or rates → · I'm being sent home from hospital, or someone I care for is → · A flood, fire or storm hit my home → · My home is unsafe and my landlord won't fix it → · I've been told to leave home →

Website: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Hours: Website, any time
Languages: English
Last checked: October 10, 2026

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