Gloucestershire assistance for rent and housing payments

Individuals with a local connection to Gloucestershire can call their district council for extra help with their rental payments. Many of the councils provide tenants assistance from the discretionary housing payment programme or they may refer people to other charities or organisations for support, such as the Gloucester Legal Aid Centre or a Citizens Advice Bureau. After an assessment is complete, funds may be provided to help families with rent arrears or free advice is provided.

Tenants in the private rented sector continue to struggle with the increasing rental rates in Gloucestershire and the challenging economy. The councils as well as charities all partner to stop homelessness in the area and their districts, so any housing payments for rent are for those people facing a onetime crisis that are threatened with evictions from their landlord. The main organisations to ring are below.

Rent payment help from councils

People local to Cirencester can call upon the Cotswold District Council on Trinity Road. The centre may be able to offer extra help for rent for tenants that have had a reduction in their housing benefits. The Housing Team will need to take an assessment of the person’s condition, and any funds paid out are at the discretion of the council. They also have grants for disabled tenants or landlords to ensure the flat they rent is up to safety standards. The phone number is 01285 623300.

The Gloucester City Council can help those in priority need. The assistance is provided by the Homelessness Team. They provide two main services to individuals, and they include the following. The address is Herbert Warehouse, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, GL1 2EQ, telephone 01452 396396.

The discretionary housing payments can help pay rent due to a landlord. It is for those with a reduction in their government housing benefits and is for Gloucester families facing a hardship. The funding is limited and the money is only to help someone with their rent for a short period of time. A form will need to be complete in order to apply for the housing payment, and the council will review it. In most cases, the funds will go directly to a landlord.

Help in locating a property is the aim of the Homeseeker programme. It will assist an individual that is very low income or in poverty find social housing to move into. The Gloucester City Council provides this service as well to families and the homeless. The aim is to get the person into affordable housing.

The South Gloucestershire Council also provides the DHP – Discretionary housing payment to people with a local connection that have an emergency. It can help with the payment of both rent and council tax. The aim is to help a tenant that has a shortfall between their housing benefit and the rent being charged by their landlord, and DHP can help for a short period of time. Stop by the council to visit a community benefit officer, or call 01454 868002 to apply.

Another option is the Housing Department at Stroud District Council, which also assists tenant with a rent arrears that are threatened with evictions. The assistance includes temporary accommodations to general advice. The council also has partnership with charities in the district and can refer eligible clients to them for rental assistance. The offices are at Ebley Mill, Westward Road, Stroud, and can be called at 01453 754078.

Organisations for housing advice in Gloucestershire

Free legal advice is from specialists at the Gloucester Law Centre. They help address housing rights for people in Gloucestershire. Not only will a solicitor help individuals facing evictions, but they also assist with housing that is in disrepair and ensure landlords fix the property. The aim of the lawyers is to stop homelessness, and they will partner with charities or the Gloucester City Council on this when need be. The phone number is 01452 423492, or stop by Beatrice Webb House, 3rd Floor, 75-81 Eastgate Street in Gloucester.

The Cheltenham Housing Aid Centre provides advice to the homeless and people threatened with it. They also help people find affordable accommodations in Gloucestershire. The address of the main office is at 31 Prestbury Road, Cheltenham, GL52 2PP, and they can be called at 01242 226672, or find more on rental assistance in Cheltenham, including shelters.

Hesters Way Community Resource Centre provides advice for women on many issues they deal with. The organisation will assist with debts, but they also aim to address homelessness in Cheltenham. So support workers will help clients apply for a housing benefit or a discretionary rent payment. The agency will also help women with child care and other problems, and there is also advice for young people too. The telephone number is 01242 521319.