Pendle Borough Council deposit help from Bond Guarantee Scheme

A limited amount of assistance is available from the Pendle Borough Council Bond Guarantee Scheme. The government will provide up to £150 for a deposit in an effort to help a vulnerable family move into a home or flat in the private sector market. It will require participation of several parties, including the landlord, tenant, and letting agent if they were being used.

This scheme was created only to assist with a damage deposit that a landlord may require. If there are any other funds that the person needs to come up with then they will need to get that money themselves. However the housing team at the Pendle Borough Council can provide some advice on where to turn to for this.

The bond for a deposit will only be available for private sector housing. There are also several eligibility criteria in place as well, and the council does not need to provide this programme to residents. It is a discretionary service.

Also, the assistance will only last for 6 months, but it can be extended for up to one year if all parties agree. At that time the landlord of the home can inspect the property to ensure everything has been maintained. The tenant also can’t be in arrears on their rent, as the council will not extend the bond if this has been occurring.

This scheme from the Pendle Borough Council is aimed at providing short term support to the client. Even if it is extended, the value of the bond at that time may be less than £150. It will provide the family on a low income time to save their money so they can take on the deposit expense on their own. So the authorities will assume the tenant saved money and that is why they will not extend a full £150.

The Bond Guarantee Scheme is also only for people over the age of 16 that have a way to pay the future rent on their own. So they can be receiving benefits or have a job in which their income allows them to sustain their tenancy agreement. The person applying to the council also needs to have a local connection to the Pendle Borough. They can either live there or work in it.

The aid is also not for people with a prior history of evictions or that have used a bond in the past and have not repaid it. The council will not provide this form of help to individuals that have struggling to maintain their home in the past. It is a form of emergency assistance for those Pendle residents that are trying to overcome a housing challenge.

Before entering into a tenancy agreement, the Housing Team needs to agree to the rent and inspect the home. This needs to be done before any deposit help is provided to the person. This is one of the key eligibility criteria for the council.

Other housing support is provided by the local government too. Those who are provided a bond of up to £150 for their deposit can also explore additional financial aid for paying other housing expenses or even a rent in advance payment from the DSS. There is also a Housing Needs service that will help the family locate a home that can be part of the scheme. Or the council will assist the prospective tenant with locating a landlord that will participate in the scheme.

The aim of the Pendle Borough Council is to prevent homelessness. The bond scheme can be used to make this happen, or people can contact the council for other housing support. The address is Market Street, Nelson, BB9 7LG and phone number to ring is 01282 661661.