Bedfordshire help with rent and deposit from schemes

Residents that need to resettle to a more affordable home, or that are currently homeless, can get help with their rent in advance or deposits from either charities or councils in Bedfordshire. The criteria in place from each organisation are noted below, but some will prioritise the homeless, young people, or families on a low income that are threatened with evictions.

The Citizens Advice Bureau in each borough can refer individuals to one of these deposit schemes, or they can provide information on other solutions. Specialists from the centres all work to prevent homelessness and provide the housing assistance that a resident may need, so they can be a place to drop in at for assistance. Residents can also learn about other benefits that may be available to them as well in Bedfordshire, including places for furniture or local hostels that can provide temporary accommodation.

When seeking help, each organisation, such as the Luton Borough, will perform an assessment of the applicant. If found to be eligible, they can receive help for the deposit, and the council may decide upon issuing a loan for that expense or they can help the client apply for other programmes, such as the Tenancy Deposit Guarantee Scheme. Each agency has limited funds and will do their best to help the applicant with rent expenses that are due.

Housing assistance and deposit schemes from Bedfordshire charities

The organisations use donations from the public, or occasional government grants, to operate their programmes. All funding is limited, but they can be a source of shelter, money for a rent deposit, and other advice.

AHAG, or Aylesbury Homeless Action Group, will prioritise residents that are socially disadvantaged or currently homeless. They operate as a charity in Bedfordshire, and though funds are limited, they do provide clients access to a deposit scheme if they are eligible. Other financial aid includes advice on how to maximize income, furniture for the new flat, and ongoing tenancy support.

Couples without children or single people can also receive help from Aylesbury Homeless Action Group, and they are the only local organisation that will provide support to this group. Many of the people seeking help from the charity also receive some form of housing benefit which AHAG may require from some applicants as it helps reduce any possibility of future homelessness. The office is at 2 Rickfords Hill, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 2RX, or call 01296 435026. Learn more on housing services from Aylesbury Homeless Action Group.

Bedford Concern For The Homeless and Rootless (BECHAR) – The charity provides advice, support, and aid to the homeless. Among other services, the charity operates a drop in centre at 12 Prebend Street where people in poverty or the homeless in Bedfordshire can get a free meal and support. Volunteers can also signpost the resident to one of the other charity or council schemes indicated below, and they offer many other assistance programmes to the vulnerable. Call the Bedford charity at 01234 365955, or find more information on assistance from Bedford Concern for the Homeless.

The local Christian Charity, which is Langley House Trust, will prioritise ex-offenders. However other aid may be provided to individuals with a local connection to Bedfordshire, but it is not common. The charity will help client resettle into a more affordable home, and as part of this there will be help for paying rent in advance on the new property, and Langley House will also work with the landlord to guarantee the security deposit. Call them at 01993 774075 for more information on these or other services.

Deposit schemes from councils

These organisations will only support families or individuals on a low income with a local connection to their Borough.

The Luton Borough Council provides individuals over 18, with a local connection, and that are out of options help with rent from their deposit scheme. There can be some exceptions made for people with a guarantor if the landlord is agreeable to the terms of any programme.

The council will also provide many other services from the on site housing specialist. The aim is to prevent homelessness in Luton, so individuals with an eviction notice can request a landlord / tenant mediation session. Or they can explore other solutions that may be made at the discretion of the council, such as a discretionary housing payment for rent arrears. The main Luton Borough Council office is at George Street and can be called at 01582 510370. Or people can read more Luton deposit schemes.

Bedford Borough Council guarantees deposits. The amount of funds from the council will only allow the deposit to be guaranteed for up to one month at most, and there are many conditions to the guarantee as well as other aid provided.

The person seeking help needs to have a tenancy agreement in place on a private accommodation, and the landlord also needs to agree to enroll into the deposit guarantee scheme. Once the individual has moved into the home, they need to agree to save a portion of their income to repay Bedford Council for the deposit guarantee, and if the landlord makes a claim at the end of the tenancy, then the client will also need to repay the council for the damage. So there are many conditions in place for the Tenancy Deposit Guarantee Scheme in Bedford. The address is Town Hall, St Paul’s Square, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 1SJ, telephone number is 01234 718058. Or find more details on the Bedford Borough schemes for deposits.

Community Grants are for Bedford residents on a low income that are facing a crisis and need to resettle or stay independent. The scheme can help a select number of people, as funding allows, with rent deposits, furniture, and other housing needs. There may be assistance for women fleeing domestic violence, or schemes that assist with deposits for the elderly leaving a hospital. Find more information on Bedford Council grants.

Central Bedfordshire also provides financial aid. The council operates the Lets Rent scheme, which will provide low interest loans to individuals seeking a tenancy. The funds from the council, or their partners such as the Credit Union, will be used to pay the rent in advance on a new private rent property. Specialists from the housing authority team at the council provide many other services too, and it includes everything from mediation with landlords to fast tracking applications for housing benefits. Find details on funds available from the Central Bedfordshire Lets Rent deposit scheme, or ring the office at 0300 300 8302.