Contents

Introduction

The Rent Deposit/Guarantee schemes have been developed by the London Borough of Waltham Forest Housing Advice Unit to help households who have, or who are about to, become homeless through no fault of their own find private rented accommodation.

This sector has much to offer many clients of the Housing Advice Unit and Homeless Persons Unit who, due to factors beyond their control, are currently finding themselves excluded from accessing private rented accommodation.

The main factor preventing people accessing the private sector is finding a deposit and the rent in advance that private landlords request. The rent deposit/guarantee scheme can solve this problem.

Scheme One: Find your own property – Rent Deposit Scheme

Waltham Forest Housing Services want to help households who have, or who are about to, become homeless through no fault of their own find themselves private rented housing. We know that having to find a lump sum of money to pay the rent in advance and deposit can often be the main barrier to people finding themselves privately rented housing. To help overcome this if you find yourself privately rented property the Council may be able to pay this money for you, directly to the landlord, instead of you having to find it. The advantages of taking up this offer of course, are that you find yourself somewhere to live that you like, in the area that you choose. You can even find somewhere out of this borough.

Unfortunately we are not able to help everybody through this scheme. To qualify -

The property must:

  • be self-contained with no shared facilities
  • be let through a letting or accommodation agency, not directly from a landlord

The accommodation agency must:

  • be willing to accept a cheque or payment by BACS for rent in advance and deposit and provide an invoice with a VAT number
  • be willing to let you sign a tenancy agreement before receiving the cheque or payment by BACS and give you a copy of the tenancy agreement
  • have set the rent to within the Rent Officer level, (this is to make sure that, if you qualify, Housing Benefit will pay all the rent when you move in)
  • on behalf of the landlord accept the Council’s “standard terms” on which rent deposit assistance is provided

You must:

  • be in a 'priority' group of people, which usually means that you have children living with you, you are pregnant or that you have a serious medical condition disability (the Housing Advice Unit will be able to tell you if you do fall into this category)
  • not have become homeless 'intentionally', e.g. because you didn't pay rent at a previous property.

NB: Ultimately it is up to the Council to decide whether or not any given applicant has a priority need for accommodation or is intentionally homeless. If you are helped under this scheme it will not necessarily mean that these matters will have been decided in your favour.

  • agree to the “standard terms” on which rent deposit assistance is provided to the tenant.

What stage is your application at?

  • If you have not already applied for housing to the Homeless Persons Unit this scheme will mean that you do not have to go through that process
  • If you have already applied to the Homeless Persons Unit but have not yet had a decision, should you find a property under the scheme you would be expected to withdraw your application as you would no longer be homeless
  • If you have already been accepted by the Homeless Persons Unit, if you find a property that you are happy with under this scheme, we would say that this would mean that we cease to be under a duty to make you an offer and we would need you to sign a statement saying that you understand this and are happy with it

This scheme is entirely voluntary. Should you decide that it is not for you, it will not make any difference to the way that we deal with your housing application or any offer that you might be made in the future.  If you should find a place under this scheme but become homeless again (or be threatened with homelessness again) you will, of course, be able to make a new application to the Council.

Advantages

  • You can be signed up instantly - this will reduce the time that you have to spend in Council temporary accommodation
  • A real choice in the type of property and the area that you live in
  • The Council will pay the agent the first month's rent and the deposit on your behalf
  • The Council will arrange your belongings to be moved to your new property and cover the cost of this
  • You will be eligible for a Relocation and Redecorating Grant of £250
  • We will also offer you assistance with your housing benefit if the property is within the borough and you qualify for benefits

Scheme two: Deposit Guarantee Scheme

The scheme works by the Council guaranteeing the deposit (equivalent to four weeks rent, maximum £1000) to the landlords. If the people are on Housing Benefit the Housing Advice Unit will fast track the claim to minimise any delay in the payment of rent. The Housing Advice Unit or Homeless Persons Unit will have assessed most people accessing this scheme.

We will be encouraging landlords to offer 12 month Assured Shorthold Tenancies. We will guarantee the deposit for the 12-month period; after this the tenant will have to make their own arrangements with the landlord if they are going to remain in the property.

All the properties that are offered for this scheme will be inspected by the Private Sector Leasing Team to ensure that they meet the published standard.

In order to reduce your time on the waiting list you can find your own property through a private landlord/agency. The landlord must be willing to accept rent one month in arrears at a level set by the rent officer. If you find a landlord willing to provide a property for the rent deposit scheme please pass their details on to the rent deposit officer.

Many of the households that are housed will have spent time in our temporary accommodation so they will be able to get further initial support in managing their tenancy from the Support and Resettlement Team for a period of six weeks. The Support and Resettlement Team may be able to provide families accepted onto the scheme with support and advice on issues ranging from how to obtain a school place, a GP and how to apply for a furniture grant.

Deposit

The London Borough of Waltham Forest will provide a deposit for every tenancy within this scheme. The sum provided will be the equivalent of a month’s rent up to a maximum of £1000. The council will hold the deposit and the landlord can make a claim for breakage within the first 12 months of the tenancy. The Council can make a payment for the claim having considered the merits of the claim. At the end of the 12 month tenancy the balance of the deposit will be returned to the general account to enable the Council to use it in helping another household in securing accommodation through the Rent Deposit Scheme.

Advantages for tenants:

  • More choice of area in which they live
  • More choice of property type
  • Property at market rent
  • No agency fees
  • None, or a reduced period of time spent in temporary accommodation

Eligibility for the Rent Deposit Scheme

All households will be subject to an assessment that will be carried out by the Housing Advice Unit. The assessment will include:

  • Eligibility to claim benefits
  • Credit check
  • Reason for loss of previous accommodation
  • Independent living skills
  • Ability to manage a budget
  • Previous housing history

If you would like further information about this scheme please contact Housing Options (Rent Deposit Officer) on 020 8496 3000 or speak to your caseworker. Alternatively you can send an e-mail to housing.advice@walthamforest.gov.uk

Leaflets online

There is a full range of Housing Services leaflets available here.

These leaflets are all available free of charge, by downloading from this website, by post or in person from our office.

The text for this web page has been adapted from the Housing Advice Unit leaflet.

Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme leaflet

Download the Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme leaflet (178KB PDF file).

How to contact us

Housing Services

Cedar Wood House
2d Fulbourne Road
Walthamstow  E17 4GG  (map)

Tel: 020 8496 3000
Fax: 020 8496 5431

Opening hours
9am – 4.30pm Monday to Thursday
10am – 4.30pm Friday

Our office is located on Fulbourne Road.

Open to personal callers: Monday-Thursday, 9am-4.30pm; Fridays 10am-4.30pm

Telephone enquiries: 020 8496 5575, Monday-Thursday 9am-5.15pm; Friday 9am-5pm