Forest Heath District Council rent deposit guarantee scheme

People that are struggling to come up with the money to pay the deposit on a new home or flat may be able to get help from the Forest Heath District Council guarantee scheme. The local authorities will provide up to six months worth of financial assistance to a client that is found eligible for help. There are many criteria that need to be met before the council will provide assistance, and more details on the deposit guarantee scheme are below.

The council will only provide help for housing in the private sector. The property needs to be in Mildenhall, Newmarket, Lakenheath, or Brandon. As everyone will know, it can often be very difficult for a family living on a low income to come up with the money that the landlord requires as many property owners request up to one months worth or rent expense for the deposit. Some landlords in the private sector may even ask for more money, and these are examples of when the Forest Heath District Council or its partners such as the West Suffolk Lettings Partnership (WSLP) can help.

Anyone applying for assistance needs to satisfy the criteria. The rules and regulations may change over time, as can the amount of support given. In general, the applicant needs to have a housing need and have a local connection to Forest Heath. So they need to have a connection in Newmarket, Lakenheath, Mildenhall or Brandon.

The applicant also needs to be homeless (but have an income) or threatened with homelessness. So if the tenant is in arrears on the rent on another flat (and if they are close to eviction) that can make them eligible. This means that the Forest Heath District Council will not help pay a deposit for a family that just wants to move to a new place.

The rent deposit guarantee scheme will also the applicant to have some source of income. It can be from a job, or it can be financial assistance from the central government housing benefit scheme. In order to prove this, an income and expenditure sheet needs to be completed by the applicant. It will require copies of bank statements, paycheques showing income (or proof of benefits), and more information.

All applications will be assessed by West Suffolk Lettings Partnership (WSLP) or the specialists at the Forest Heath District Council. Who does this assessment will change from year to year, as there are cases in which the authorities partner closely with WSLP on running the Forest Heath District Council.

Amount of help provided by the rent deposit guarantee scheme

The Forest Heath District Council will provide assistance in one of 3 ways. This will depend on all of the criteria indicated above, such as income, whether homeless or not, the applicant’s housing needs, and other factors. Also WSLP or the council cannot assist with paying a letting fee, as it is non-refundable for prospective tenants that fail credit referencing. The 3 programmes available are as follows.

The first is linkage to emergency shelter. This will be provided if the applicant is not eligible for any other scheme or if their application was denied, whether for the rent deposit or local housing allowance. The are churches and charities in Forest Heath District that the council partners with (such as the Salvation Army) and they can provide accommodations to the homeless. The person can also get hot meals, assigned to a key worker, and other support.

If the application is not for private sector housing in the district, then the individual will be linked to the Housing Benefit Scheme. The council will try to fast-track their application. This is the main central government scheme that can provide financial help for rent and other housing needs, and it is the second option.

The third way that the Forest Heath District Council can help is by guaranteeing the rent deposit for the home or flat. The authorities will provide the landlord a bond for up to 6 months worth of rent. This is the last option, and it means that the council approved the application.

In all three instances, the family will be able to receive other, ongoing tenancy support services. This is offered if someone moves into a shelter or if they are enrolled into the deposit scheme. Anyone can participate as the authorities do what they can to end homelessness for all people in the district. For applications, the post is College Heath Road, Mildenhall, Suffolk, IP28 7EY. Ring 1638 719000 to talk to the switchboard specialist.