Charities and the government offer rent deposit schemes that can help people who are trying to move but are having difficulty in paying for housing costs. A number of crisis loans for rent deposits, bond guarantees, government assistance, and financial aid near you can help families or individuals with paying the rental deposit for a new flat in the private renting market. Not-for profit organisations, government housing authorities, council schemes and charities listed below can assist the needy. People facing a crisis and the homeless can get also help with paying a security deposit or rent in advance. There is financial aid provided by many groups for those who need additional support to move into a new apartment.
Many prospective tenants are struggling to come up with the funds for this. It can be very difficult to pay for all the housing costs, furniture, and other expenses for a new home or flat. This is where a rent deposit scheme, payable as either bonds, loans, or guarantees, can help. Find more information on getting assistance below.
Agencies Help with Damage, Rent and Security Deposits
Many councils, DSS and charities are well aware of the burden being placed on our workforce. Higher housing costs are becoming unaffordable. Without help for a deposit, many people will be forced to choose between unsafe residences and homelessness.
There are ways to get help with paying the upfront funds required by a landlord or the owner of a private accommodation. Some are better than others, and your actual options will depend on your household income, number of members in your household, ages of any children or older adults, presence of any disability and the community where you live.
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- Rent Deposit Scheme: Many councils can help with your deposit if it is necessary for you to be able to move into an accommodation. They actually provide the payment to your landlord on your behalf. Each council sets the rules on qualifications. For example, funds may be limited to families with small children. At the end of your tenancy, the deposit would be returned to the council. This is a great way to benefit if you qualify since it means no money out of pocket other than the first month’s rent, which you are usually required to pay.
- Rent Deposit Guarantee: Similar to the Scheme mentioned above, the Guarantee can cover your rent deposit requirements for you. The difference is that your council would provide a bond as a guarantee for the deposit for private renting that is equivalent amount of money rather than an actual cash payment. Should you default or cause damages to the flat, then the landlord may request the funds through the council.
- Budgeting Loan: The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) can approve crisis loans that are equivalent of up to 4 weeks of rent payments. If you are receiving Job Seeker’s Assistance, Universal Credit, Income Support, or some other government benefit then you may qualify for a budgeting loan. You can apply directly with DWP or through JobCentre Plus.
- Discretionary Housing Payment: Your council could approve a grant for you to use towards a deposit. This can often be combined with other forms of assistance as well. As an example, any type of grant issued to the individual would be above and beyond any Housing Benefit received.
- Charity Grant: Some charities provide help to tenants that cannot come up with the necessary funds to move in. Each not-profit-profit has very specific rules about qualifications as well as the types of situations that they can assist with.
- Rental Loan: If your household income is higher, it is likely that you will not qualify for one of the need-based programmes mentioned above. There are situations where a loan for paying your rent may actually be a feasible and reasonable option. If you normally earn enough to afford your housing costs but depleted your cash reserves due to a financial emergency or some other unexpected costs, then borrowing the money from a lender could give you the funds you need now with the flexibility to repay the proceeds over many months. This can keep your actual monthly payments low so that you can rebuild your emergency fund while repaying the loan.
Local Rent Deposit Schemes by County and City near you
Individuals looking to rent a new property in the private letting market can turn to resources in their area near them. There are a number of schemes, crisis rent deposit loans and other forms of financial assistance available that can help with paying a deposit or other housing costs.
England
Arun
Bath and Northeast Somerset
Bedfordshire
Berkshire
Birmingham
Bristol
Cambridgeshire
Canterbury
Cheshire
Chichester
County Durham
Crawley
Derbyshire
Devon
Dorset
East Sussex
Essex
Gloucestershire
Hackney
Hertfordshire
Hinckley and Bosworth
Hyndburn
Kent
Lancashire
Leeds – Bradford and West Yorkshire County
Leicester and Leicestershire County
Lincolnshire
Liverpool and Merseyside area
London
Manchester
Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland
Norfolk
Northamptonshire
North Yorkshire
Oxfordshire
Portsmouth and Southampton, including Hampshire County
Redcar and Cleveland
Somerset
South Yorkshire
Southend-on-Sea
Staffordshire
Suffolk County and Ipswich
Surrey County
Swindon
Warwickshire
Wolverhampton
Northern Ireland
Belfast and Northern Ireland
Lisburn and Castlereagh
Scotland
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll and Bute
Dundee
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Lothian
Falkirk
Glasgow
Inverclyde
Moray
North Lanarkshire
Orkney Islands
Renfrewshire
Scottish Borders
Stirling
South Ayrshire
West Dunbartonshire
Wales
Bridgend
Caerphilly
Cardiff
Carmarthenshire
Ceredigion
Conwy and Denbighshire
Flintshire
Merthyr Tydfil
Monmouthshire
Neath Port Talbot
Pembrokeshire
Powys
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Swansea
Torfaen
Vale of Glamorgan
Wrexham
Companies or Employers
The Co-operative Group
Starbucks
Additional ways to get help with deposit and rent in advance
If your area (county, borough, or city) is not listed, then finding help with rent deposits on your own can be a tricky endeavour. Information is often difficult to obtain, and you also must proceed with caution when predatory loan companies try to steer you into unaffordable products. If you cannot find a charitable or council rent deposit housing programme that serves your locale, ask us to track down the best options for you.
Many government organisations as well as charities work to help the homeless and people who are near homelessness. Offering emergency or short term help for paying a rent deposit, either in the form of loans or guarantees, is a solution. There is assistance out there.
View Comments
Hi I was wondering I'm on the waiting list for a move with the council due to the fact I have mobility issues and I'm in an upstairs flat so I struggle with the stairs can I get help with the finance for a deposit and first month's rent to get a private property thankyou.
Could help be provided with the deposit for a mortgage?
I am 24 living under my mum's roof with my 3 year old daughter I share a room with my daughter and share the same bed my house it's very crowded I work I want to move out but I can't afford it
I am currently in a private rented house and wanting to move closer to school for our children. We are struggling with the rent deposit for a new house. The only one we can find that accepts DSS and pets is expensive. The landlord (she) wants £600 pound plus £520 for a month rent. Is they any help we can get towards the bond or rent to move in please. Thank you.
l am looking for help to find a rent deposit to move to a cheaper flat. I receive JSL ans I am full time carer for my mother. My rent has gone up and I have to pay 54.60 every 4 weeks towards my rent which is 433.00. I found a cheaper house at 375.00 for 4 weeks but I need 2 months rent in advance.
I am currently in arrears of 557.00 which I pay 35.00 every 2 weeks. Would I be able to get any help or a loan for the deposit from social fund?
Hello, I was just wondering if you could help me with a rent deposit. My daughter has uncontrolled epilepsy and Is due for brain surgery in a few months time. We live in a high flat and she has tried to get out the window at least 3 times while wandering after a seizure. We want to go to private housing, and the council is not helping us. But we don’t have the money for the private let or deposit. Is there anyway you could help?
I am in this situation now as my landlady has sold the house I have lived in for the last 13 years. The Discretionary Housing Payment to pay a deposit for Leicester will only be granted if you have a tenants agreement and will only pay what they think the rent should be. But you and I both know that landlords charge what they want. You also cannot get a tenants agreement if you do not have the money up front for the rent deposit to give to the landlord/estate agent.
But its not just the rent and deposit that is due, its also all the agent fees. Then you have the added problem that most landlords do not want people on housing benefits. Being a pensioner I get housing benefits but with all the TV programs about what scum people on housing benefits are, we are all being tard with the same brush. So I have found there is little to no schemes that offer deposit help for people like me.