The upfront costs associated with a private rented property can often make it difficult to secure a new home, especially for those on a low-income or in receipt of benefits. The Council’s Private Renting Assistance Scheme is now available to help overcome these barriers.
What does the scheme cover?
The primary offer available through the scheme is a non-cash deposit (known as a bond guarantee). This is provided to the landlord or agent in place of the usual cash deposit, and can be claimed against if there are any damages or losses to the property, or rental arrears owing, when the tenant moves out.
Any additional financial assistance is offered at the discretion of the Council, and is dependent on the needs and circumstances of the applicant (see eligibility criteria below). This may include:
- Support with a cash deposit (only where there is no option to provide a bond guarantee)
- Support with the first month’s rent, if this is required upfront
- Assistance with finding and paying for a guarantor product
- In exceptional circumstances - temporary rental top-ups, whereby we will make up the difference between the rent paid by the tenant (which is usually in line with the housing benefit/support with housing costs they have received) and the rent charged.
Tailored advice is also available for applicants to the scheme, to include affordability checks and helpful tips in relation to setting up and maintaining a new tenancy.
Who can apply?
To be eligible for the scheme, you must:
- Have a local connection, whereby you either live or work in the area, have family in the area, provide care for someone who lives in the area, or receive care from someone who lives in the area
- Have a low income, be in receipt of certain benefits, or are otherwise unable to afford/find the funds upfront for a deposit
- Require an urgent move - this may be because you are homeless or threatened with homelessness (e.g. your landlord has served an eviction notice) and this cannot be prevented, or due to your current home being unsuitable and/or unaffordable.
Applicants in urgent housing need and/or those who are facing significant challenges in relation to accessing housing may be eligible for additional financial assistance through the scheme (as described above). This includes:
- People who are street homeless, including staying in night-to-night hostels or shelters
- People placed in temporary/emergency accommodation by the Council, or about to reside in such accommodation
- People living in supported accommodation who are ready to move on to independent living
- Anyone requiring an urgent move due to fleeing domestic abuse
- Care experienced young people
- Ukrainian guests (who need to leave their host accommodation)
- Refugees and resettlers
- Ex-offenders.
Will you help me to find a property?
Although Council officers may provide some assistance (if you are in urgent housing need), it is important that you look for and source your own property, with a landlord or agent that is willing to accept financial assistance from the Council. We can give advice regarding affordability and where you should focus your search, and are able to talk through the scheme with the landlord or letting agent if they have any queries.
See our Finding a home page for general tips to help with finding a home in the private rented sector.
What happens once I find a property?
We will carry out some checks with you to ensure that the property is affordable and suitable to your needs, and will confirm the level of financial assistance that can be provided through the scheme.
We will also collect copies of the current gas, electric and energy performance certificates to check that the property is compliant, and in most cases, a visit to the property will be carried out to make sure it is safe and free of repairs.
Once our checks have been carried out, and the tenancy offer confirmed, the agreed financial assistance will be provided. Where ‘cash’ sums are required, these will be paid direct from the Council to the landlord or agent.
If a bond guarantee is being provided, we will make a detailed record (or inventory) to show the condition of all fixtures and fittings before the tenancy starts. This helps to protect both you and the landlord. The inventory and agreement documents are then signed by all parties - the Council, tenant and landlord.
What does the landlord need to do?
There are no additional obligations placed on landlords through the Private Renting Assistance Scheme, although we will make checks to ensure they are fulfilling their usual duties. Landlords will need to:
- Provide a property suitable for the needs of the tenant
- Provide a written tenancy agreement, in line with government guidance on the written information that must be provided to tenants (external link), and share a copy with us
- Provide copies of the current gas and electric safety certificates and the Energy Performance Certificate to the tenant
- Ensure the property is safe and of a good standard throughout the tenancy
- Get in touch with the Council if they have any concerns regarding the tenancy, especially if eviction action is being considered
- Put any cash deposit received in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme (TDP)
- Provide access to the property ahead of the tenancy start so we can complete our checks.
How does the non-cash deposit (bond guarantee) work?
The bond guarantee can cover up to the value of 5 weeks’ rent, just like a cash deposit. The Council enters into a guarantee agreement with the landlord and tenant, setting out our obligations to cover the cost of any property damage, loss and/or rental arrears identified at the end of the tenancy (up to the bond value). Landlords need to clearly evidence any property damage and/or rental arrears, with prompt payments made upon receipt of claims.
How can a landlord make a claim against the bond guarantee?
Landlords or letting agents who wish to make a claim following the end of a tenancy are asked to first notify us of the intended claim by using our Private Renting Assistance Scheme contact form (external link).
Our online Bond Guarantee Claim Form (external link) can then be completed.
Any evidence to support the claim will need to be at-hand when completing the webform, so this can be uploaded. This should include a copy of the check-out report, and evidence of any costings. Further supporting evidence can also be submitted after completing the claim form (if required) by completing our Private Renting Assistance Scheme contact form (external link) and detailing which claim it pertains to.
How can I apply for assistance?
To apply for financial assistance to access a private rented property, you will need to:
What is the Tenant Matching Service?
Any applicant to the Private Renting Assistance Scheme also has the option to sign up the Council’s Tenant Matching Service (TMS). Through the TMS, applicants can be put forward and matched to an available rental property offered by a landlord through this service, providing the property is a good fit in terms of affordability, location and size.
If you sign up to the TMS, it is important that you still focus your efforts on finding your own rental property.