Waverley Borough rent deposit assistance

The housing options team at the Waverley Borough council provides three main services. The rent deposit scheme can help a tenant pay for the move in costs for a new home. The other main financial aid program is advice on applying for housing benefits, as this can help the resident stay in the existing property. The last service is ongoing tenancy support given by the team from the Waverley council.

Using all three of these programmes, the aim is to help the family move into a home and also remain living in it. As the council knows that just offering support for paying a deposit is not enough on its own, as many people also need either other financial assistance or just advice from the council.

The schemes are focused on the private rented sector in Waverley. These tend to be the only options available to most residents due to the lack of social housing in Surrey County and the borough. Another barrier is that it is costly to buy a home, so for many people the private rented sector is the only option available.

Bonds are issued to landlords as part of the Deposit Guarantee Scheme. Some families on a low income lack the cash for paying the expenses for moving. In these cases the Waverley Borough may be able to assist with the deposit.

There is an assessment that is done by the Housing Options Team at the council. They will need to verify the applicant’s income and ensure they can pay the rent to the landlord on their own in the future. Also, the landlord needs to agree to this scheme, as they need to agree to the terms of the bond instead of a cash payment.

After applying to the Waverley council, if the person is found eligible, the authorities will issue a bond to the landlord and renter. This is used by the private sector landlord for the deposit. It will only cover at most 8 weeks of rent payment expenses, but this is usually enough to pay for that cost.

The scheme is discretionary. The council does not need to issue a bond for any amount. However, if the applicant is eligible, the amount of the bond they get will depend on the prospective tenant’s circumstances and budget.

Other housing assistance is arranged for new tenants by the council. Some of this, such as advice or tips on maximising income, is run in partnership with the Waverley Citizens Advice Bureau. This will help people maintain their home over time.

The council will also provide assistance in applying for the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), also known as benefits. This is mostly for people on welfare or that have a low income. It can be effective to combine LHA with the rent deposit bond referenced above, and together they are an effective solution.

For more information on these or other programmes, call the Waverley Borough Council Housing Options Section. The phone number is 01483 523188. The team is available from Monday to Friday. They also operate from an office at The Burys, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1HR.