UK Bill Help

People looking to move into private housing in the Maldon District can apply for assistance from two schemes that are run by the council. One of them will offer a loan to pay for a portion of the rent in advance payment, and the other is a bond for the damage deposit. Both are aimed at supporting those residents on a low income that are seeking accommodations in the private sector.

Residents of the district will often apply for these schemes so they can get into a home earlier. This may help with the process so that they do not need to wait for a permanent housing association social home. It can help the applicant avoid a stay in temporary accommodation for a long period of time.

When seeking help, the applicant needs to have lived in Maldon District for at least 6 months and be local to the area. They also need to be in priority need and in good standing with the council. So the authorities will not provide assistance to individuals with anti-social behavior, that are in debt or tax arrears to the council, or that have other issues with the government. They will also not provide financial aid to people with a history of recent, past due evictions.

Interest free loans are used for the rent in advance payment that a landlord may require. It will cover up to one month worth of costs. While there is no interest due from the tenant duuring the agreement, the money will still need to be repaid to the Maldon District council over a period of time. It will normally be up to 24 months. The long term repayment plan provides the family time to budget properly for this expense.

Additional assistance is also offered for people that take part in this scheme. The council will refer the prospective tenant to local letting agents who can help them find a property to rent. In some cases, a guarantor is required by the landlord. While the council can’t do this for the person, they do have advice on who can provide this service. They also provide information on the Maldon local credit union budgeting classes.

For those that are applying for benefits, the council can help with the application as well. The Housing Team at the main office can also review a tenancy agreement to ensure it has the required written notice of 2 months, and other advice is available for renting privately in Maldon District.

The other programme is the damage deposit guarantee scheme. This is a form of assistance that is used in lieu of a cash deposit. The Maldon Council helps the tenant cover this by issuing a bond guarantee, however the landlord also needs to agree to this form of payment.

This scheme will only cover any future damage, and not any arrears that may develop over time. This is different than some other councils in the area. However it will pay for up to one and half months’ rent worth of damage to the private accommodations.

The aim of the damage scheme is to reduce the risk to the landlord and encourage them to rent to someone in priority need, even if they do not have the cash for the deposit. It can help with this goal as they have confidence that the Maldon District Council will cover any costs. However, if the landlord were to make a claim with the authorities, the tenant is still responsible for repaying the council any money that the agency pays out.

The Housing Team at the Maldon District Council is located at the office on Princes Road. They can provide more information on these schemes and applications. The phone number, which is 24 hours, is 01621 854477.