If you are leaving supported housing in Manchester, start planning with your support worker and look at more than one housing route. You can apply for social housing through Manchester Move, look for a private room or ask Manchester City Council for help if you may have nowhere suitable to stay.
What should I do before I leave supported housing?
Ask your key worker, housing officer or support worker to talk through your move with you as early as possible. Agree the date you may need to leave, what support will continue and who you should contact if plans change. If you have not been given a clear leaving date, ask for one in writing.
Make a simple move-on plan together. It can include:
- where you could stay if your next home is not ready in time
- the areas where you can safely and realistically live
- any support, access or health needs a new home should meet
- what documents you may need for applications
- how you will manage rent, bills and moving costs
Tell your support worker if you are worried about being unsafe, losing contact with care or treatment, or being unable to manage in a less-supported home. Ask them to help you speak with Manchester City Council or the service arranging your move. Do not assume you must leave before another option is discussed.
If you are likely to have nowhere to stay, contact the council before your current accommodation ends. In England, you can ask your council for homelessness help if you are homeless or likely to become homeless within the next eight weeks. The council will look at your circumstances and decide what help may be available. You can read GOV.UK’s guide to getting help if you are homeless or at risk.
How do I apply for social housing in Manchester?
Manchester City Council uses Manchester Move as its rehousing register and choice-based system for many council and housing association homes. Start by reading the council’s information about registering for rehousing. It explains how to register and what happens once your application and supporting proofs have been checked.
The council asks about your circumstances, housing history and the kind of home you need. Give accurate details and explain clearly why you need to move. Include relevant information about your current supported housing, when it is expected to end, and any support or access needs. Keep copies of what you send and note your application details.
The council checks whether you can join the register and assesses your housing need under its rules. If accepted, you can look at advertised homes and say which ones you want to be considered for. The council describes this as bidding; it does not mean paying money. Read the current rules and follow any instructions about keeping your application up to date.
Social housing is in high demand, and a wait is possible. Applying does not mean you will have a home by the time you leave supported housing. The council advises people to consider other housing options while they wait. You can also read its current information about who can apply for rehousing. If you are unsure how a rule applies to you, ask Manchester City Council or an independent adviser.
What other room options can I consider?
A private rented room may be an option if you can find somewhere suitable and work out how the rent and other costs will be paid. Check what is included in the rent, whether you share facilities, how long you can stay and what agreement you would sign. Ask about any deposit or rent in advance before agreeing to move in. Do not pay before you have checked that the room and landlord are genuine.
You could also ask your support worker or council housing officer whether another supported housing placement, a move-on service or a private rented option with support is available for your circumstances. Availability and who can use a service vary, so ask what is open to you rather than relying on an old list or another person’s experience.
Before choosing a room, think about whether it is close enough to the people and services you rely on. Check travel to appointments, work or training, and whether the home can meet any access needs. Our [guide to finding a room to rent on benefits]( /guides/finding-a-room-to-rent-on-benefits-uk) and room viewing checklist can help you prepare. Remove the extra space before the first link if copying it: guide to finding a room to rent on benefits.
What if I may have nowhere to stay?
Contact Manchester City Council’s housing service as soon as you think you may lose your accommodation. Explain when you need to leave, why you cannot stay, and whether you have somewhere safe to go. Ask how to make a homelessness application and what information to provide. You do not need to wait until you are sleeping rough to ask for help.
The council will ask about your situation and make enquiries. A support worker can help you explain your needs, gather letters and attend a meeting with you if that would help. Tell the council about any risk to your safety, health or support if you have to move. Ask for any decision or next steps in writing, and contact the council again if your situation changes.
A referral from a professional may help connect you with the council, but it is not a substitute for explaining your situation yourself. Manchester City Council says that a professional referral needs your consent and that you choose the council as your preferred housing authority. You can read its information about homelessness referrals. For a plain-English overview of applying in England, see our guide to making a homeless application.
What should I check about rent and benefits?
Before accepting a room, check how the rent will be paid and whether your benefit award can help with the housing costs for that address. The right arrangement can depend on the type of accommodation and your circumstances. Do not assume that a previous award or rent arrangement will carry over to a new home. Ask your work coach, the council or Citizens Advice to explain what to check for your case. GOV.UK has information about housing costs and Universal Credit.
Make a list of regular costs, including rent, bills, travel and food, and compare it with the money you expect to have. Ask the landlord or provider to confirm in writing which bills are included. If you need help understanding a benefit decision or rent shortfall, contact an adviser before committing to a tenancy. Next Step Rooms is not a council, charity or advice service, and we do not give legal or benefits advice.
How can Next Step Rooms help?
Next Step Rooms currently has furnished rooms in supported shared houses in Liverpool, not Manchester. The homes have gas, electricity, water, council tax and Wi-Fi included. We accept registrations from people in Manchester and elsewhere in the UK for a free waiting list and room alerts, but we cannot promise a room in Manchester.
The service is for adults receiving Universal Credit who also get PIP or another extra benefit that exempts them from the benefit cap, such as DLA, the ESA support component, LCWRA or Carer’s Allowance. A housing partner confirms eligibility before a viewing. If you want to register, use the registration form; for alerts, use the room alerts form. We call back within one hour, or first thing the next morning for evening registrations. Your support worker can make a referral at /refer.
Questions people ask
Can I apply to Manchester Move while I am still in supported housing?
You can check the council’s rehousing rules and apply if you meet its requirements. Explain your move-on circumstances and ask your support worker to help with the application.
Should I wait for social housing before looking for a room?
Not necessarily. Manchester City Council says demand for social homes is high, so consider other suitable options while your application is being assessed.
When should I contact Manchester City Council if I may have nowhere to live?
Contact the council as soon as you think you may lose your accommodation. In England, you can ask for help if you are homeless or likely to become homeless within the next eight weeks.
Does Next Step Rooms have rooms in Manchester?
Our current homes are in Liverpool, not Manchester. People in Manchester can register for the free waiting list and room alerts, but we cannot promise a Manchester room.
Sources and official help
- Register for rehousing | Manchester City Council
- Who can apply for rehousing? | Manchester City Council
- Homelessness: duty to refer | Manchester City Council
- Help if you’re homeless or about to become homeless | GOV.UK
- Housing costs and Universal Credit: What you can get | GOV.UK
This guide is general information, not legal or benefits advice. Rules and amounts change, so check the official links above or speak to Citizens Advice or your council before you make a decision.