Worrying about where you will live is frightening, and the earlier you ask for help, the more can usually be done. This page explains who to contact in and around Louth if you have nowhere to stay, are afraid of losing your home, or need help with housing costs.
You can be homeless even if you have a roof over your head, for example if you are staying with friends because you have nowhere else to go. If that sounds like you, the help here is for you too.
Nowhere to Stay Tonight
Contact East Lindsey District Council straight away on 01507 601111. The council says this number also takes emergency calls out of office hours. You can also fill in the council's homelessness self-referral form.
Shelter gives free advice if you have nowhere to stay tonight, are at risk of abuse or harm at home, or are worried about losing your home in the next 2 months. Ring their free helpline on 0808 800 4444, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm (closed weekends and bank holidays). It is very busy, so you may have to wait, and you can try again if you cannot get through. Shelter does not provide accommodation but can give advice. See england.shelter.org.uk.
You will usually need a local connection to East Lindsey for many of the council's services. GOV.UK says you do not need one if you are a survivor of domestic abuse, a care leaver under 25, or a current or former member of the armed forces, among other exceptions.
If you are in danger now, ring 999.
Worried About Losing Your Home
Whether you rent, own your home or live with relatives, contact the council's Housing Advice Team early. Their advice is free and impartial. They can:
- tell you about your housing rights
- negotiate with landlords
- advise if you are having problems with your mortgage
- help you find and secure a home in the private rented sector
- help if you are affected by domestic abuse
- advise on applying for social housing, on maximising your income, and refer you to debt advice
Ring the Housing Hub on 01507 613135, or use the self-referral form. See the council's Housing Advice and Options page.
If You Have Had a Notice From Your Landlord
According to Shelter, a notice from your landlord is the first step towards eviction, and you do not have to leave straight away. Your landlord has to apply to court for an order when the notice ends, there is always a court hearing you can go to, and only court bailiffs can evict you, with at least 2 weeks' notice of the date. Most tenants cannot be evicted legally without a court order.
The rules for private tenants changed on 1 May 2026, so check your notice on Shelter's eviction page and get advice quickly. If your landlord is harassing you or trying to make you leave without a court order, Shelter has advice on that too.
Late rent also affects your finances. See Money and debt advice for free debt advice.
Sleeping Rough
East Lindsey District Council has a Rough Sleeping Intervention Team. If you are sleeping rough, or you have seen someone who is, contact the team on 01507 613135 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday), or the council on 01507 601111, which transfers to an on-call service out of office hours. There is a freephone number for people with no credit: 0800 464 0445. You can also report someone through StreetLink. When you report, give the person's location as precisely as you can and their name if you know it.
- Food: the Louth Community Larder at the Trinity Centre. See Food banks and help with food.
- Hostel in East Lindsey: the main hostel is in Skegness and is in high demand, and you need a local connection. Referrals are made by the council, through the Housing Hub on 01507 613135.
- Emergency accommodation in Lincoln: the Nomad Centre on St Rumbold's Street (LN2 5AR), run by YMCA Lincolnshire, is the only direct-access emergency accommodation in Lincolnshire. It is for adults aged 18 and over, and it has en-suite rooms and three meals a day. It can't take every application, and sometimes there is no room, so ring first: 01522 504 589 (day) or 01522 594 588 (night). See the YMCA Lincolnshire page.
The council advises asking for help with accommodation during office hours where you can, as it is much harder to find somewhere late at night. In severe winter weather, the council will try to offer shelter to rough sleepers, though this is usually short term and basic.
Help With Rent and Housing Costs
East Lindsey District Council's Housing Payments can give short-term help if you get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit that includes housing costs. They can help with a rent deposit, rent in advance, moving costs, rent arrears, or a gap between your benefit and your rent. Ring 01507 601111 or see the council's Housing Payments page.
If you are worried about falling behind on your mortgage, talk to your lender as soon as possible. The council's housing costs page links to MoneyHelper and to Support for Mortgage Interest.
Finding a Home
- Social housing: there are no council-owned houses in East Lindsey. You apply for the housing register online, and eligibility and local connection rules are in the council's Housing Allocation Scheme. Ring the Housing Hub on 01507 613135 if you need help. See Finding a home on the council's website.
- Private renting: homes are advertised through estate agents, websites, local newspapers and social media.
- Armed forces: if you are leaving the services with nowhere to go, contact the Housing Hub on 01507 601111, option 4. See the council's housing options for service leavers and veterans.
More Help
If the stress is getting too much, see Need help now?. If you need to eat, see Food banks and help with food.
Details checked 28th October 2026.