UK Bill Help

Residents in Vale of Glamorgan are supported by various government and charitable schemes that can help them obtain private housing. The target of these schemes is usually someone who earns lower income that is enough to pay a modest rental rate. Perhaps they have endured a hardship in the past few months that has made life more difficult.

Many are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. Additionally, they lack the savings to provide both advance rent and deposit to establish a new tenancy. These programmes can help in these situations.

Vale Assisted Tenancy Scheme

Vale of Glamorgan Council offices are normally the recommended first stop for residents who need help moving into private rented housing. Their Housing Options Team are the administrator of the Vale Assisted Tenancy Scheme.

This service allows for people who lack the credit and savings to move into private housing the opportunity to meet with an adviser who can recommend steps for success. One tool that they have in the arsenal is the Bond Guarantee Scheme. The scheme provides a certificate to landlords who agree to accept a council guarantee in lieu of a cash deposit.

In addition to the bond guarantee, Council can also authorise a payment from the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme. This can provide cash for a deposit when a landlord is unwilling to accept a bond certificate. It is sometimes recommended when an action causes hardship to someone. Funds from the deposit are returned to Council at the end of the tenancy.

Both options can be recommended by Housing Options. Enquiries may be answered by the Housing Benefit Department by calling 01446 700111.

Crisis SmartMove

Glamorgan residents have the added advantage of being covered by the SmartMove scheme. This advice initiative helps single homeless adults find suitable housing.

One of the tools that advisers have as a part of the scheme is rent deposit assistance. Government has identified the deposit as being one of the most difficult obstacles for homeless adults to overcome as they try to obtain housing. The scheme is funded by Crisis for the benefit of the community.

Rent First scheme

The Rent First scheme is often overlooked by people who struggle to come up with the total deposit and advance rent required by a private landlord. Since this is a homeownership scheme, many people discount it falsely believing that they could never afford to own their own home. What they do not realise is that Rent First actually lowers the rental rate for a private home.

Tenants who would like to buy the home may rent it for less than the market rental rate for three years. This will in effect make it easier for people to get help for their housing needs. Not only can it lower monthly rent, it also helps to reduce the upfront cost of moving in.

The benefit is that the tenant can get lower initial costs and be able to save towards an eventual purchase. With three years of participation, there is time to save money and earn a higher salary.

Due to funding constraints, there may not always be an open position in the Rent First scheme. Residents may call OneVale at 01446 700 111 to enquire and get more information.

Home Access Trust

Penarth residents may take advantage of a £275 bond scheme through the Home Access Trust. This special programme hosted at Tabernacle Baptist Church helps people move into rented housing when they cannot afford the rent deposit on top of advance rent.

While the required deposit may be more than £275, this cuts the amount that the tenant will need to save up. Additionally, this bond scheme may be layered on top of other bond schemes, including that from Council.

One major advantage is that the bond honours landlord charges for both damages and arrears. For this reason, more landlords are willing to take a chance on the scheme rather than to require an actual cash deposit from the applicant. To access the bond scheme, residents may call Home Access at 029 2070 2690. It is a registered charity that serves the town of Penarth.