Our rent in advance and deposit schemes help people who are homeless, or facing homelessness, to access private rented accommodation.
The scheme is for people who cannot raise funds to secure private rented accommodation themselves. You will not be eligible for the scheme if you are able to borrow the money from elsewhere.
We will ask for your bank statements, proof of income and proof of savings to establish how much assistance you need and whether you can afford the property you have found. To avoid delays it is important you provide these as soon as possible, we may not be able to help you without them.
Schemes available
You must be over the age of 18 to apply for these schemes.
Rent in advance
Most landlords ask for rent to be paid before you move in. This is referred to as “rent in advance”. This is a loan paid direct to your landlord which you must repay in regular instalments.
Deposits
Landlords usually require a deposit as security against damage or arrears. The landlord must protect the deposit in a national deposit protection scheme until the end of a tenancy.
We would provide a deposit direct to a landlord. The deposit is a loan which you need to repay on a regular basis. This means that at the end of the tenancy you could have some funds returned to you which you can use for another deposit. The amount available will reduce if payments are made for agreed damages or arrears.
Bonds
A bond is a written guarantee provided to the landlord at the start of a tenancy instead of a deposit. The bond confirms we will pay a landlord for agreed damages or rent arrears at the end of a tenancy, up to a specific value. If a landlord claims against the bond we will recharge you the amount claimed.
How to access the schemes
You will need to create an account to apply for one of these schemes. Alternatively you can discuss this with your Housing Officer if you have one.