UK Bill Help

Landlords, tenants, and the Wealden District council all partner together in an effort to help tenants pay the rent in advance as well as a deposit on private sector housing. The scheme will provide families on a low income with a low interest loan for this essential housing expense.

The financial aid is for people considered to be in priority need. Applicants need to have a low income and no savings available to them. Another key criteria from the council in Wealden District is that the tenant needs to be able to pay the rent on their own in the future, so the flat selected needs to be affordable. This also means in order to get deposit help, the tenant needs to have a job.

Loans can be issued to families or individuals that are on the Wealden District Housing Register. Or the person can have an application in progress. This is a key requirement as the council only has limited funds available to them, and loans will only be issued to tenants that have been partnering with them on locating housing.

Terms of Letstart Guarantee deposit scheme

The scheme is a combination of a loan for certain rent payments as well as a bond guarantee. So due to this, it will require the landlord to agree to terms of council scheme. If this occurs, the programme can proceed as noted below. If not elegibile for the schemes, then there are other crisis loans to help pay bills.

The government authorities will issue a bond to the landlord. This is a guarantee of the security deposit that the landlord may require. The amount will vary based on many factors, but in general it will cover a deposit for up to six weeks at maximum.

The bond will cover any future damage that the tenant may do to the home, beyond every day wear and tear. If the landlord of the home in Essex County feels this may have occurred, then they can make a claim against the bond. At that point the council will provide them money for expenses the landlord may have occurred, and also the Wealden District housing team will purse reimbursement from the tenant.

In some cases, loans are issued as part of the Letstart Guarantee. This will also be to pay for the deposit. In other instances the cash can be used to pay for up to four weeks of rent in advance that is due. Whether a bond guarantee or loan is issued is at the discretion of the council.

If cash is given out by the Wealden District Council or if a bond is issued to the landlord, in either case the tenant will need to agree to a repayment plan. They will either need to do this to take over the bond guarantee on their own as it is time limtied, or they will need to agree to this plan to repay the loan. The terms of this will be set after a close assessment of the applicant’s circumstances.

To learn more, call the council for a Letstart Guarantee application. The housing team has agreements with some landlords in the district, or if the individual has suggestions for housing in mind they can use them. It will take 48 hours or more for the agency to review a request for assistance. The information is available at Council Offices. The post is Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AZ. Or cal the housing team at 01323 443380.