Exeter City Council schemes for rent deposit help

Landlords of private rented sector homes as well as tenants seeking accommodations can both receive help from the Exeter City Council. The council operates two different schemes that are aimed at assisting with a rent deposit and ending homelessness in the city.

These programmes benefit both prospective tenants as well as landlords of private housing. Extralet can help families get off the housing list. The Renting Support Service will also assist them by issuing a bond to pay the deposit on a new home.

When it comes to either one of these schemes, the private sector landlords in Exeter will receive a tenant that has been assessed by the council as meeting the eligibility criteria for renting a home. So this will bring the property owner in a guarantees source of income.

For those residents that enter into a long term tenancy agreement, and they pay all of the housing costs on time and are backed by a council guarantee, this benefits all people in the city, whether they are renters or landlords. All options are explored as part of this process to end homelessness as almost everyone has a goal of either ending this event as well as bringing in more income, and the schemes aim to do this.

The two schemes are available in partnership with other charities in the city. The Renting Support Service uses both resources from the government as well as Path. Other key partners include landlords as well as letting agents in the city of Exeter, Plymouth and even Teignbridge areas.

They work together to not only help with damage deposits but also provide free advice on any number of housing issues. The support is for both tenants and landlords, and it will help all groups keep the tenancies in place for the long term.

When applying for a Deposit Guarantee (DG) from Exeter City Council as part of the Renting Support Service, an assessment will be done by the housing team. They will want to see that the prospective tenant has a track record of paying rent on time, not damaging a home, and sustaining a successful tenancy. There will be proof of income needed as well as the applicant needs to show how they will pay future costs on their own if they are given assistance with the deposit. A full assessment interview will be done on their housing history.

If found to be eligible for DG or the Extralet programme, the council will provide up to a twelve month bond guarantee instead of paying cash for the deposit. They can also fast track any applications for the Local Housing Allowance / Benefits. Another service is that they will help the family in applying for grants for rent in advance, explore loans, and offer support on other fees.

This is the financial part of what the council will assist with. They can also help the person find a home to rent that is affordable and safe. This will include obtaining certificates as well as inspections for the new private rented sector home.

As part of receiving a deposit guarantee from the authorities, the tenant will need to save their income so they can replace the government aid. They will have 12 months to do this. The person is required to open an account at the credit union and the council will monitor it to ensure they save money for this.

The council and partners such as PATH also provide free advice. The tenant as well as the team at the agency can take part in support services. If they have debt arrears or need other assistance, such as furniture or white goods, then this can be provided in some cases from the Housing Benefit office partners. They will also provide free guidance on tenants’ legal obligations when it comes to evictions or other matters.

If the council in Exeter City can’t help, then they will signpost the client to who can assist. The authorities have information on charities, Citizens Advice, and many other organisations that offer housing support.

For more information, the Housing Advice team has an address of the Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter, EX1 1JN. The phone number is 01392 491 286.