Deposit help from Wokingham Borough Council rent in advance loans

The Wokingham Borough Council provides many housing services to both prospective tenants as well as people threatened with homelessness. There is access to a scheme that offers a loan for the rent in advance or deposit that is due, and the council will also provide advice on entering into tenancy agreements. The aim of these support services is to ensure tenants are treated fairly by their landlord, and also ensure that anyone that is homeless or needs to resettle gets the money they need for the rent costs.

Landlords in the Wokingham Borough will usually require a security deposit from the prospective tenant, and the amounts required in the borough will usually be equal to four weeks of monthly rent. The reason they ask for this is to cover any future damage that may occur to their property. Another key is the landlord asks for this money in case the tenant falls into arrears.

Financial help from the Wokingham council

Many people struggle to come up with the cash for this, which will be needed to secure the accommodation, so the Wokingham Borough Council may be able to provide help from the Rent in Advance or Deposit Loan. The Housing Advice Section in the borough centre runs this programme, and they review all applications and any money is paid out at their discretion.

If the resident is found to be eligible, they will be given the loan and will not be charged interest. This will save them money over time and allow the tenant to pay for other expenses they have, such as fuel bills, furniture for the new home, or even food.

There are many application criteria in place in order to be approved for the deposit scheme. The housing team in Wokingham Borough will require an application to be complete, and the Housing Needs Manager will either award a loan or reject the application. The other key conditions include the applicant needs to be local, in priority need, or currently homeless. If the person has an eviction notice, it needs to be set for no later than 28 days.

Loans can also be priotised for the vulnerable as well. This can be a women escaping violence, or someone with an income that is leaving their family. The council will abide by government guidelines on priority need.

The property selected needs to be in Wokingham Borough as well, and the rent on it needs to be affordable and the home needs to be safe. If the applicant has an allowance, the monthly housing payment needs to be less then that benefit amount in order to be approved for a loan. Other conditions will also be set by the Housing Advice Section.

Council funds are limited, and any aid is provided at the discretion of the manager and housing team. If someone is not awarded a loan for the deposit or housing payments, then they may be signposted to other rent or housing schemes in the region. They can also still get advice on other problems they are faced with though, no matter the outcome.

Additional support services

Free advice is also provided, and people can call 0118 974 6760 for this. For example, the council will tell tenants to keep a receipt for any deposit paid, and recommend that photographs are taken of the flat before moving into it. They also have information on how to enter into a tenancy agreement, such as make sure the dates are on the legally binding agreement, that the landlord signs it, and other advice. So information is available on these housing concerns and other issues.

Applications for the Housing Benefit are also provided by the Wokingham Council. This is mostly for people on benefits or welfare, and the government will help pay for the rent from this benefit. In many cases the homeless can also apply. To learn more on this, or to try to be fast tracked, dial 0118 974 6636.

The aim of the Wokingham Borough Council is to solve housing problems, and they do this from the loan scheme as well as the advice and support they provide. Individuals with a local connection can ring the Housing Advice section at 0118 974 6760, or drop in at the office at Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1BN.