Lets Rent deposit scheme from Central Bedfordshire Council

Residents in need of affordable housing, whether homeless or not, can get help from Lets Rent, which is a scheme provided by the Central Bedfordshire Council. The housing agency at the council partners with landlords, charities, or not-for-profit organisations to prevent homelessness and provide funds to prospective tenants for the rent in advance that many landlords of private housing require.

Lets Rent will help place low income families or homeless individuals into affordable, private housing. The applicant can be resettling into the new home for financial reasons, or they may be homeless and need a place to live. So people of many backgrounds can apply for assistance from the Housing Options Officer at Central Bedfordshire Council, and they may receive help with their deposit and other advice from the Lets Rent scheme.

An application will need to be done at the council office. Proof of income, expenses, number of children, and other information is required, and if the housing authorities later determines the application was fraudulent, the tenant will be evicted and need to repay any funds.

What will the Lets Rent scheme provide

If accepted into the Lets Rent scheme, some of the services provided are below. All assistance from Central Bedfordshire Council is limited, so most people will only receive enough funds for one months of their rent deposit.

• Ongoing free advice on sustaining a tenancy, and this will include budgeting advice, job training, and income maximisation.
• Loans will be issued to pay for the deposit, and the client will need to agree to repayment of the council funds.
• Help in locating private accommodations, and the Housing Options Officer has information on landlords that participate in the scheme.
• Some residents on a low income may receive housing payments for a shortfall in their rent payments if their housing benefit is not providing them enough money.
• Inspections of the property will need to occur, and the council can point out any issues but they need to approved it.
• The council and its legal team can provide advice on any proposed tenancy agreement from the landlord.

While the resident will need to find their own property in the private market, the council and the team located there may be able to help with this. They have information on landlords that are participating in the Lets Rent scheme, and some of these property owners want to rent to tenants that have been referred by the council. They do this as they know that person has access to ongoing support and advice, which reduces the chance of future arrears on their rent payments. Also, by using the council to help with this placement, the inspection process of the home may also be eliminated.

Many criteria need to be met when applying. Any types of loans from the Central Bedfordshire Council will only be for people with a low income that meet these criteria. First, the council will assist those that are in priority need or homelessness, but there may also be help for tenants threatened with homelessness and that need to resettle. The applicant will also need to afford the rent on their own in the future, either by themselves or using a housing benefit.

The housing team can be ringed at 0300 300 8302, or the post is Watling House Priory House, High Street North Monks Walk, Dunstable Chicksands, LU6 1LF Shefford, SG15 5TQ. After making an appointment, a resident can stop in at the office.