Help with rent in Glasgow | Find emergency rental assistance in city of Glasgow

Glasgow residents who find themselves suddenly unable to afford their rent payments may be able to obtain help. Tenants can get financial relief through one of the many aid programmes, schemes and charitable organisations serving the community. There are grants that help help rent arrears, loans, and government housing schemes. Together these community partners tackle the causes of homelessness. By helping tenants control rental arrears, the hope is that fewer Glasgow residents will find themselves sleeping rough.

Many tenants are tempted to take drastic measures when the landlord demands late rent be paid. Desperate tenants often make major financial blunders that can cause their financial situation to deteriorate rapidly. While Glasgow-based lenders are quick to step in to “lend a hand”, smart citizens examine the grant-based aid offered by charity and council programmes.

Council aid programmes to help pay rent

Glasgow City Council is often the first step towards getting help when rental arrears accumulate. Council does not want families to be evicted. Evictions lead to bad credit and instability within the household. The financial woes that follow a family after an eviction contribute to chronic homelessness, which can be particularly difficult to correct.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is one particular benefit that could be a possibility for some tenants. People who are used to a certain income level might not realise that they qualify for this important rent subsidy. Perhaps a family member is out of work, or the primary wage earner may have experienced an hours reduction. Many people on zero hour contracts have reported much lower income levels over the past couple of years.

Glasgow City Council pays directly to tenants who are responsible for making on-time rent payments. In some cases, Council may pay such funds directly to landlords as a safeguard against tenants misusing the funds.

Council also administers the Discretionary Housing Payment Fund which is used to provide cash aid to tenants in dire need of support. Requests for funds to prevent an eviction are a priority of the Fund. Particular importance may be placed on applicants who can normally afford to pay their rent, but have found themselves in arrears due to a temporary financial crisis. The Fund is primarily used to reduce a hardship and is not intended to be a recurring form of support. Tenants seeking emergency aid should contact Glasgow City Council at 0141 287 5050. A Discretionary Housing Payment Application form will need to be submitted for consideration. Applicants do not need to be receiving full Housing Benefit to qualify for emergency aid through the Fund.

Temporary Housing is provided through one of the 2,000 furnished flats that are administered by area housing associations. Council staff can assist with a referral into one of these homes under qualifying circumstances.

Up to 54 individuals who are being evicted may find safe shelter at Clyde Place Assessment Centre. The facility provides emergency accommodation when an eviction forces out a tenant before they are able to secure assistance or catch up on arrears. The Hamish Allan Centre provides help to those who expect to be homeless. Office hours are nights and weekends.

Homelessness Services manages the casework on behalf of Glasgow City Council. Clients may request aid by contacting their local Council office. Community Casework Teams are primarily based out of three service centres.

• North East Community Casework Service is based on Burnmouth Road. Call 0141 276 6153.
• North West Community Casework Service is located on Mansion Street. Call 0141 276 6169.
• South Community Casework Service occupies the TwoMax Building on Rutherglen Road. Call 0141 276 8201.

Separately an Asylum and Refugee Support Team serves migrant populations at the Hamish Allan Centre (Call 0800 838 502 or 0141 287 1800). Refugees may alternately call 0141 276 8245 for the Refugee Support Service. The Prison Casework Service is also administered by Council.

Charitable Financial Aid and Housing Advice

Glasgow’s Advices and Information Network (GAIN) provides a consolidated helpline for emergency rent situations. Tenants may call 0808 801 1011 for a referral to an aid service. This GAIN Helpline is administered by Glasgow Housing Association, Social Work Services and registered social landlords. These community partners collaborate to ensure that tenants who need help curing rent arrears can avoid evictions, thereby preventing homelessness.

GEMAP Scotland provides a free advice service to help families who are late on rent payments. Specialists assist with housing benefit applications and appeals. Tenants gain early intervention support, making the organisation a great asset to those who seek advice early in their eviction fight. Clients may call 0141 773 5850 to receive advice and assistance at the Aberdalgie Road office.

Tenants who need legal intervention on an eviction may find that the independent Govan Law Centre may be particularly helpful. Govan Law Centre provides legal aid at no charge. While the service is based on Orkney Street, it provides a Prevention of Homelessness Team that visits Council’s Community Casework Service locations each week. Tenants who have received an eviction notice may call 0141 440 2503.

Shelter specialists can work with each tenant to find a favourable outcome to a delinquent rent situation. Clients may call the national hotline at 0808 800 4444.

Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) meets with tenants who cannot afford their rent payment due to an emergency crisis that is causing them to fall behind. GHA provides direct appointments and frequently hosts specialists from area Citizens Advice Bureau and Money Advice Centres. GHA tenants may call 0800 479 7979 or request assistance through a GHA staff member.

There are also dozens of housing charities that provide grants to Glasgow residents who cannot afford to pay their rent. Some of these grant opportunities are featured on this website. Those fearful of homelessness could receive direct grant aid in some situations. A major share of charities that provide emergency rental assistance grants in Glasgow either prefer or require a referral by a specialist at a community organisation, Glasgow City Council or through one of the Money Advice Centres or Citizens Advice Bureau offices. Specialists are familiar with the most common aid charities and can provide help with the application if a grant is determined to be an essential component of an overall action plan and aid package.

Financial Help Check for rent help

Older people in Glasgow, pensioners, and families may all receive linkage to financial as well as rent help from this free service. Advisors from the scheme, which can be reached at 0800 085 7145, will provide tenants with information on benefits they can get (for housing), money management and budgeting advice and other services.

The Health Check will not provide grants directly for paying rent, but they give information. The advisors can also help families with filling out forms to charitable and government schemes. A main goal is to help the tenants pay their rent in a crisis and stay in their flat or home.

Citizens/Money Advice

There are also several Citizens Advice Bureau and Money Advice Centre services throughout Glasgow. Any charity can refer a client to these free services so that a financially distressed tenant does not become homeless.

Glasgow Central Citizens Advice Bureau is a free service available to all residents of Glasgow. Anyone who needs emergency rent aid and advice to prevent an eviction can find relief through a meeting with one of the specialists on staff. Residents may call 0141 552 5556 to obtain an appointment at the Bell Street office. Appointments are available at Glasgow City Council on John Street (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Residents of North East Glasgow may contact the Royston Road office at 0141 770 7869.

In some cases, Citizens Advice will refer the tenant to other agencies. As an example, clients that require legal representation in a landlord dispute may instead request an appointment at the Legal Services Agency on Renfrew Street. They can help the family deal with rent arrears or landlord disputes, among other services. Learn more on the Legal Services Agency programmes in Glasgow.

North East Glasgow

• Bridgeton Citizens Advice Bureau assists tenants through rent disputes and budget problems. Bridgeton residents may call 0141 554 0336.
• Easterhouse Citizens Advice Bureau regularly helps residents cure rental arrears. An initial interview may result in a referral to a solicitor if the situation warrants such a referral.  Clients may call 0141 771 2328 to schedule an appointment at the Shandwick Square office or at Cranhill Community Project on Bellrock Street.
• Provanhall Housing Association provides general financial advice to tenants unable to make their rent payment. Tenants are encouraged to discuss potential conflicts with paying their rent before situations deteriorate. Staff can provide a housing appointment, or residents may call 0141 771 4941.

North West Glasgow

• Drumchapel Citizens Advice Bureau can represent tenants facing eviction due to arrears and other problems. Clients may request an appointment by calling 0141 944 2612. Outreach surgeries are available at the following locations:
  • Drumchapel Health Centre on Kinfauns Drive
  • Focal Point Day Centre on Drumry Road East
  • Garscadden and Spiers on Kinellar Drive
  • Gartnavel Hospital (Brownlee Unit) on Great Western Road
  • Glasgow West Housing Association on Royal Crescent
  • Great Western Tenant Partnership on Munro Place
  • Knightswood Housing Service on Dykebar Avenue
  • Partick Community Centre for Health on Dumbarton Road
  • Tenant Managed Homes of Drumchapel on Garscadden Road
  • Three Eye’s Centre on Knightscliffe Avenue
  • Townhead Village Hall on St Mungo Avenue
  • Whiteinch Community Centre on Northinch Court
  • Woodside Health Centre on Barr Street
• Drumchapel Money Advice Centre helps tenants who are falling behind on rent with developing an action plan. Where appropriate, clients may be advised to apply for benefits. Others who were previously denied housing benefit may get help with an appeal. This agency also conducts outreach surgeries at these locations:
  • Community Centre for Health Partick on Dumbarton Road
  • Drumchapel Citizens Advice Bureau (featured above) on Drumry Road East
  • Drumchapel Health Centre on Kinfauns Drive
  • Glasgow West Housing Association on Royal Crescent
  • Heart of Scotstoun on Balmoral Street
  • Three Eye’s Centre on Knightscliffe Avenue
  • Whiteinch Community Centre on Northinch Court
  • Yoker Housing Association on Dumbarton Road
  • Yoker Resource Group on Kelso Place

South Glasgow

• Castlemilk Citizens Advice Bureau is a free service to all Glasgow residents. Located on Dougrie Drive in Castlemilk, the organisation provides direct advice on financial issues that impact rent repayment. It can also help with benefit appeals. Clients may call 0141 634 0338.
• Castlemilk Law and Money Advice Centre provides outreach surgeries at Darnley Family Centre, GSERA (Castlemilk, Gorbals, Govanhill offices) and The Well Asian Advice Centre. Call 0141 634 0313 for an appointment.
• Greater Pollok Citizens Advice Bureau accepts clients whether they are in arrears on rent or not. Appointments are available by calling 0141 876 4401 or by visiting the Cowglen Road office. Other appointments are made through the following outreach centres:
  • Kennishead Community Flat on Kennishead Avenue
  • Penilee Community Centre on Gleddoch Road
  • Pollockshaw Parish Church on Shawbridge Street