UK Bill Help

A bond for paying the deposit for up to 12 months is provided by the Rossendale Borough Council to the homeless or residents facing an eviction. Any assistance is only for families on a low income or benefits. However the authorities may also be able to assist the homeless with a damage deposit provided they have some form of income (whether from benefits or a job) to pay future rental costs.

With the lack of social housing in the Rossendale area, private sector housing is often the only option for families. All of the aid is aimed at helping individuals move into private homes or a flat. This can be a challenge for many families in Rossendale due to the costs involved for this sector, in particular in coming up with the cash needed to pay for a deposit.

Amount of help from Rossendale Rent Bond Scheme

The council will need to ensure the property is affordable and meets other criteria as noted below. If it is, then the bond for the deposit can cover up to one month worth of rent costs. But the private sector housing being moved into also needs to meet other criteria as noted below, and the landlord also needs to agree to this programme.

Rossendale Borough Council will require that the prospective tenant locate a property to move into. They also take to take other actions on their own to address the cause of the crisis. While the Housing Team at the council office can provide advice or guidance during this time-frame, the work needs to be done by the individual.

One a viewing of the property has been done by the tenant and the landlord, the housing team from the council also needs to inspect it. They will determine if there is any damage already in the home, as that will impact what the deposit bond will pay for. The authorities also need to ensure the home is safe to live in.

The Rent Bond Scheme will pay, or guarantee, up to one month of the rental deposit, within limits. This is one reason that a tenancy agreement can’t be signed before applying for the assistance. An assessment of the affordability of the property will be done by the Rossendale team.

Also, the application process for the bond for the deposit will require an interview as well as assessment of the person seeking help. Only those people local to the Rossendale borough that are on a low income or benefits can be assisted. The applicant can’t have any money in a bank or credit union, and also no family that can help them.

The Rent Bond Scheme is only for those residents who would otherwise be homeless without the support of the council. They also need to show the means to sustain the flat in the future as well.

The Rossendale Housing Options Team is the main place of contact for any deposit help or other housing problems. Since resources are limited, and the team is so small, the aim is to help those people that can live independent on their own if the council will to just give them a little short term help. So those people with a past history of homelessness and financial challenges may not qualify for deposit help, but the authorities will still signpost them to other agencies that may assist.

The team is based at the One Stop Shop Centre in Newline, Bacup, Lancashire, OL13 0BB. To apply or get more information, the telephone is 01706 252555.