Renting a home from a private landlord has a number of potential advantages for those looking for a new home. These include:
- Choice and mobility- there are a wide range of properties in different areas, often available to move into immediately.
- Affordability - renting from a private landlord can be cheaper than buying your own home. If you are on a low income you can also receive help to pay your rent by applying for local housing allowance.
When looking to rent privately you need to consider several things. You need to consider the type of tenancy being offered, whether you can afford to pay the rent, whether the property is in good repair and meets your requirements. You also need to judge if the landlord operates in a professional manner (being a member of Wigan's Landlord Accreditation Scheme or organisations such as the Association of Residental Letting Agents is a good sign). You will also need to find out if you have to pay money up front to cover rent of damage to the property before you move in.
If you want to more information on renting a home please click on the links below:
The Council has also produced its own information pack on renting a home in the private sector. You can download the full information pack or by individual sections below:
Information pack by section:
- Private rented sector - Introduction (.pdf, 185kb)
- Factsheet A - The viewing - tenant property checklist (.pdf, 110kb)
- Factsheet B - The tenancy checklist - the inventory (.pdf, 40kb)
- Factsheet C - Tenancy Deposits (.pdf, 37kb)
- Factsheet D - Tenancy Issues (.pdf, 54kb)
- Factsheet E - Electrical Safety (.pdf, 42kb)
- Factsheet F - Gas Safety (.pdf, 42kb)
- Factsheet G - Furniture and Furnishings (.pdf, 43kb)
- Factsheet H - Housing Standards (.pdf, 51kb)
- Factsheet I - Enforcement (.pdf, 49kb)
- Factsheet J - Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) (.pdf, 60kb)
- Factsheet K - Tenancy Relations Service (.pdf, 56kb)
- Factsheet L - Frequently asked questions (.pdf, 55kb)
- Factsheet M - Local Housing Allowance (.pdf, 50kb)
- Factsheet N - Homeless Prevention Service (.pdf, 44kb)
- Factsheet O - Your guide to Wigan Housing Solutions (.pdf, 47kb)
Private Landlords
If you are a private landlord we recognise you have a key role to play in providing a range of housing options in the borough.
Accredited Landlords
Wigan Council wants to recognise the private landlords that offer good quality accommodation and a good standard of management. The Landlord Accreditation scheme is free to join and involves the Council checking the accommodation and management standards of each landlord that applies. If you are a tenant and want to check whether your landlord is accredited or not please click here. If you are a landlord and want to apply to become accredited please click the link below:
Local Housing Allowance
Since April 2008 there is a new way of working out Housing Benefit for people who live in privately rented property and who are on a low income. Local Housing Allowance is designed to be fairer and simpler to understand. Below are links that you may find useful if you are looking to rent a property in the private sector or are a landlord:
Bonds and the Bond Scheme
Most Private Landlords will ask for a bond at the beginning of the tenancy. This is a sum of money, usually to the value of one months rent, which the landlord can use to off-set any rent arrears or damage to the property at the end of the tenancy. Since April 2007 all deposits taken by landlords or their agents are required to be paid into an authorised tenancy deposit scheme. This protects the tenants deposit and prevents the landlord from refusing to pay it back (unless there is just reason to do so). If you want more information on tenancy deposit schemes, please click on the link below:
Some private tenants cannot afford to pay the bond and so Wigan Council developed The Bond Scheme. The Bond Scheme is run on behalf of the Council by Wigan Housing Solutions (External link). The scheme underwrites the value of the bond with the landlord without money physically changing hands. If there are rent arrears or damage to the property at the end of the tenancy the scheme will pay the landlord the cost of the bond. For more information on the Bond Scheme click below:
Wigan Housing Solutions
Wigan Housing Solutions is a community interest company (not for profit) that is employed by the Council to run the Bond Scheme and manage properties the Council privately leases from landlords. They also offer a housing management service to private landlords.
If you are a private landlord and are interested in employing Wigan Housing Solutions please click on the link below:
If you are looking for a private rented tenancy Wigan Housing Solutions may be able to help, please click on the link below for more information:
