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There are many different services provided by the Dover Deposit Bond Guarantee Scheme. The team from the council will help a qualifying resident locate a home to live in and which landlords have agreed to participate in this scheme. They will also help with form filling for housing benefits for future rent costs and arrange ongoing tenancy support. All of that is offered, and more, as noted below.

When applying, assistance is aimed at those tenants that are threatened with homelessness from their current flat as well as there is a priority for the currently homeless. While this bond may help get the local family get into a home, it will not assist with future housing payments. So if someone falls into those categories above, in either case they will need to plan on how they will be paying the rent going forward.

The Housing options team from the Dover Council will meet the applicant. During this session an assessment will be done to determine their exact need. This will also include a review of their financial condition as well as other circumstances such as total household income. If someone owes the Dover Council money for any other bills or taxes, they will not be qualified. If found to be eligible based on above, then the next steps will be taken by the council.

Help provided to prospective tenants in Dover

There is not any cash provided. The assistance from the council will be in the form of a bond issued to the landlord. So this means that the owner of the home to be let needs to agree to the scheme as well. Note that the housing team can help the applicant locate a landlord in the Dover district that will participate.

The bond will pay for the equivalent to up to one months rent. The aim is to either cover any any arrears that results at the end of the tenancy agreement, or the scheme can be used for damage that occurred to the home. After this has been done, and the tenancy agreement has been reviewed and approved by the council, then the tenant can move in.

All future rent payments are the responsibility of the tenant. The council scheme will only assist with the initial move in expenses that are due from the landlord. Also, it is the tenants responsibility to pay the all other bills such as gas, council tax, electricity, and water charges, as these are not paid by the scheme. However, the housing options team can provide help here as well.

While it is the tenant’s ultimate responsibility to apply for the central government Housing Benefit, the council can provide advice on completing the forms for this. They are a resource to answer questions and maybe even assist with completing forms.

The Rent Deposit Guarantee Officer will also help the tenant if they need advice on maintaining their home. There are times in which an individual may need assistance in locating say a new, higher paying job. Or maybe the person is struggling with some other financial hardship. In any case, the Dover council wants to prevent future homelessness so they will arrange for the person to get the support they need.

Also, the Dover Deposit Bond Guarantee Scheme is only for people on a low income and that are local to the district. If the person’s income changes after they are enrolled in the scheme, if they move, or if something also occurs, then they need to let the Housing Benefit Team know this.

For more information, the Dover Rent Deposit Guarantee Officer is the best point of contact. The phone number is 01304 872206 or they can ring 07740 560945.