PRIVATE RENTING
Rented accommodation comes in different types from bed-sits to
flats or houses and shared flats/houses. In some cases the house or
flat may be shared with the landlord (resident landlord). In
others, the property may be managed by a letting agent or managing
agent. Properties for private renting may either be furnished or
unfurnished. Rents for the different types of property are likely
to vary accordingly.
Work out your housing need
When choosing accommodation it is essential that you choose
accommodation that you need rather than what you necessarily
want.
This is especially the case for people who will be relying on
housing benefit to pay their rent. If a property has more bedrooms
than you reasonably need you may not receive enough housing benefit
to cover the rent. If you are single and under the age of 25 you
will only be able to claim housing benefit for a room in a shared
house, so should look for this type of accommodation.
Follow this link to more information about
housing benefit.
Where to look for a property
Once you have decided on your housing need you can begin to look
for properties. There are a number of ways to do this:
- local newspapers - have a look in the special sections of local
newspapers advertising accommodation to let.
- other ideas - local shop windows, community noticeboards,
supermarket noticeboards or anywhere where people may advertise.
Landlords will often advertise here.
- letting agents - letting agents manage properties on behalf of
private landlords so that the landlord does not have to deal
directly with their tenant. Follow this link for a list of
letting agents contact details.
The Council is currently developing a Private Sector
Lettings Scheme and may be able to assist you to find a suitable
property in the private sector.
View the property - Make sure you go and have a look at a
property before you sign any forms to say that you will take it.
What may sound perfect may be completely different when you
actually view it. If you have any concerns, you are not obliged to
take it, especially if you haven't signed anything, and you can
refuse it and start looking again.
Deposits and rent in advance
Most private landlords ask for a deposit, usually the same as
one month's rent, before letting a room or a property. This money
is their security against non-payment of rent, damage to property
or removal of furniture. A deposit is returnable and you should get
this back when (for outstanding debt or damage).
In addition to a deposit, landlords sometimes require rent in
advance. If you do not have money of your own to meet this, you may
be able to get a loan from the Social Fund. A budgeting loan can be
paid to people who have been on income support for at least 26
weeks and who are considered to be in a 'high category' of need. A
loan must be at least £30 and at most £1,000. A crisis loan may be
paid in an emergency to anyone over the age of 16 and may meet rent
in advance payments. All loans from the Department of Works
and Pensions must be repaid. For more information about crisis
loans follow this link to
DirectGov website.
You may also have to pay charges for administration and credit
checks.
You may be able to get help with your deposit through the rent
guarantee scheme run by Forest Heath District Council. It is aimed
at helping people who are homeless or threatened
with homelessness. A rent deposit guarantee means that should
you leave without giving notice or cause damage to the property the
Council would agree to pay out to the landlord, no cash is paid up
front. This guarantee lasts for the first six months of the tenancy
and during this period you should try and save each month so that
after the six months you will hold you own deposit. For more
information about the rent deposit guarantee scheme please call the
housing options team on 01638 719345.
Your tenancy agreement may be written or verbal. Verbal
agreements are as legally binding as written ones. Agreements
normally contain information on the amount of rent, how long the
tenancy lasts for and the rights and obligations you and your
landlord have. Read the agreement carefully before signing it.
Check the type of tenancy or licence, who has to do repairs, who is
responsible for bills and what happens if you want to leave. Get
advice if you are unsure about anything. It is important that you
keep to all the terms of the agreement, otherwise your landlord
could take steps to evict you on the grounds that you have broken
one or more of these.
If you pay your rent on a weekly basis, by law, your landlord
should provide you with a rent book. If you do not pay rent on a
weekly basis, still ask your landlord to provide a rent book or,
failing this, ask for a receipt each time you pay your rent. Either
way, this will provide a correct record of payments, especially if
you pay your rent in cash.
If you are unhappy about paying rent in cash, pay by cheque instead
- make sure you still get receipts or your rent book is kept up to
date.
If you have a written agreement, this should state how much rent
you should pay each month / week and when.