Certain public authorities must notify a local housing authority in England where one of its service users may be homeless or at risk of homelessness. The service user must consent to the referral.

The following are public authorities with a duty to refer:

• youth offender institutions and youth offending teams
• prisons (public and contracted out)
• secure training centres (public and contracted out) and colleges
• probation services (community rehabilitation companies and national probation service)
• Jobcentre Plus
• accident and emergency services provided in a hospital
• urgent treatment centres, and hospitals in their capacity of providing in-patient treatment
• social service authorities

More information is available in the North East Local Housing Authorities procedure.

To make a referral, fill in the Duty to Refer North East housing referral form, email dutytorefer@middlesbrough.gov.uk, or call 01642 726800.

Please note, if the referral is urgent or the service user has no accommodation tonight, we suggest you make the referral by phone to ensure a quick response.