Epping Forest Housing Aid Scheme deposit guarantees in Essex

Rather than waiting on help from the local council, another option is the rent deposit guarantees from the Epping Forest Housing Aid Scheme. The charity organisation partners with landlords as well as the District Council to make homes available to individuals and they also provide help to tenants for paying the deposit that is due on private rented accommodations.

The EFHAS (Housing Aid Scheme) can help the homeseeker come up with the funds so they can move into a new home. Charitable money is used to pay for the scheme, and volunteers from the not-for-profit provide an assessment based on the need of the applicant. They can also help the client apply for Housing Benefits, which can be used to pay the rent in the future.

The eligibility criteria are the following. Applicants need to meet these in order to get help from the scheme.

• Anyone seeking help needs to be aged 18 or over.
• The applicant also needs to be homeless or in housing needs, such as poor conditions or maybe they are threatened with homelessness.
• The individual, or family, needs to be on a low income and can’t make the rent deposit payment themselves.
• The person applying for the guarantee needs to find their own private accommodation, but volunteers from the charity can provide advice in some cases.
• All family’s or individuals need to be local to the Epping Forest District Council area.
• Many types of accommodations are covered, and include rooms, flats, houses, and more.
• TThe landlord needs to agree to the deposit guarantee as being used for payment for the home.

The Epping Forest Housing Aid Scheme will process applications faster than many local councils or that someone may be used to from the housing benefit process. The landlord needs to call EFHAS in order to agree and start the process. The guarantee on the tenant’s deposit will be provided after the applications are completed and approved, and as part of this the landlord will need to accept the payment too. The charity is always trying to enroll them into the scheme.

Terms of deposit help from the Housing Aid Scheme

The funds from the organisation will cover up to four weeks of rent from the deposit guarantee for the homeless or individuals with a local connection that are in housing need. The amount of the rent on the accommodation needs to be reasonable and affordable, and EFHAS will not provided a guarantee on an expensive flat. Volunteers will also partner with the person to help them maintain the tenancy and not be evicted.

If at the end of the tenancy, if there is damage to the home or if the tenant has a rent arrears on the home, then the landlord can make a claim against the guarantee. In this case, the conditions of the programme from EFHAS will also have the tenant pay for any damage that they may have caused.

With the aim of preventing future homelessness in Epping Forest, the charity provides many other housing assistance services to individuals on a low income that participate in the scheme. Some of the programmes include job training, help in locating employment, CV creation, and other support.

They also have referrals to legal aid for tenants, and this is from Epping Forest District Citizens Advice Bureau, and their number is 01992 574989. Other partnerships are in place with local housing authorities and groups that aim to prevent homelessness in Epping Forest. The tenant will be able to make enquires into the extra help provided from a volunteer at the charity after they move into their new home.

The main centre that the applications for the deposit guarantee scheme is Epping Forest District Council Housing Options Department, Civic Offices, High Street, Epping, Essex. Or individuals can make enquires at the local Citizen’s Advice Bureau. For more information, people should call 01992 573655.