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One elusive tool that can help residents get approved for private housing is the Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme. Inverclyde Council offers this guarantee to landlords who agree to admit certain local residents into new tenancies. These tenants lack the savings needed to pay the rent deposit and in some cases, the first month’s rent payment.

Inverclyde Council has taken the proactive approach of helping lower income citizens who could afford to pay rent to actually begin a new tenancy. The issue is that the applicant often has experienced tremendous difficulty in saving money to use towards the deposit. In many cases, simply paying the rent in advance can be a longshot.

Some residents have been paying for temporary accommodation. Many have encountered problems with receiving income. In some cases, reductions in benefit payments have made it difficult for them to afford to make a move to a new flat or rental home.

To meet this need, Inverness Council provides a guarantee that may be substituted in place of a cash deposit. A written agreement is signed by council and the landlord which itemises all of the appliances as well as to establish the face amount of the guarantee. A certificate is issued to the landlord for that amount, which is normally limited to the value of a single month of rent.

Registered private landlords may also sign on to the scheme directly with the council in order to drive in higher numbers of new tenants. The scheme is good for landlords too since it reduces vacancies. Landlords may use the scheme to establish new tenancies on rental properties that are located within the Inverclyde Council area.

The guarantee itself is assurance that the landlord will receive reimbursement for damages that result from negligent occupancy. Any loss must be documented and submitted to the council along with any evidence to support the charges. This enables affected landlords to receive the funds to recover from damages even if the outgoing tenant is unable to pay.

Tenants should understand that this is not a free ride. Council expects tenants to abide by all rules within the tenancy agreement. If the landlord does turn in a damage bill, then the resident is responsible for repaying that amount to the council.

This scheme is not available to everyone. It is limited only to those residents who have met the eligibility requirements. An applicant is expected to reveal all sources of household income including benefit payments. A disclosure of all financial resources is also necessary.

The scheme is meant to help those who can afford to pay the monthly rent for a home in Inverclyde. The guarantee can help cover the deposit requirement but the resident is normally responsible for all rent payments. What can be used in addition to wages is any housing benefit.

Generally any property that is privately owned is eligible for the scheme as long as it is located within Inverclyde council area. It must meet safety guidelines and must be administered by a registered landlord. Housing associations frequently utilise the scheme to facilitate new tenancies. The home must be an appropriate match for the tenant based on size, number of bedrooms and adherence to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) guidelines.

One major advantage for both residents and landlords is that the council will continue to provide advice and mediation should there ever be a problem that arises. This limits disputes between landlords and tenants and reduces evictions.

Anyone that would like to be considered for the Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme may contact Inverclyde Council Homeless Services on 01475 715880. Tenants can get information on taking advantage of the guarantee in place of a cash deposit. Landlords can find out how to choose between tenants who participate in the scheme as well as to access any property improvement grants that are offered when necessary to restore a home to proper standards of the private rented sector.