Hart District Council scheme for rent deposits

People on a low income or the homeless in Hart District can receive up to £1600 in financial assistance for paying the deposit on a new, private sector home. The council provides funds from a scheme that they administer, and prospective tenants or individuals that need to resettle into more affordable accommodations may receive the cash in the form of a loan or the council may decide to issue a bond guarantee instead.

The applications and assessments are done by the Housing Options Team, and the Deposit Guarantee Scheme is one resource that the council uses to prevent homelessness in the region. Landlords from the district also benefit from the scheme as it provided them a source of income and a quality tenant.

Other assistance is also available at the council office. People seeing to rent a flat or home can apply for the housing benefit, and that support can be combined with the funds from the deposit scheme. The two programmes can be effective in helping people sustain their tenancy.

More information on the deposit scheme in the Hart District

The aim of the council and this programme is to help the homeless as well as people threatened by it. Also, the local authorities work to end the cycle of homelessness in the district, so ongoing support is provided as well as information on other resources, such as applications to a housing allowance or benefits. To get more information, contact the Hart District Housing Options Team at 01252 774420.

Based on the results of the application, and if the person is found to be eligible, they will be provided with one or two forms of assistance. Some people may qualify for cash assistance from a loan, and other tenants may be provided a bond guarantee that the landlord also needs to agree to.

Both forms of assistance will offer at most £1600.00, which will also be equivalent to 6 weeks of rent at the maximum. In some exceptional circumstances, the Hart District Council will provide additional support for up to one month of rent in advance.

To be eligible for the scheme, applicant need to have a local connection to Hart District, be homeless, or in housing priority as defined by the central government.

To learn more or apply, the Housing Options Officer will need to award funds from the deposit scheme. Applicants will need to meet with that officer so they can conduct an assessment and determine if the applicant is eligible for funds from the scheme.

If the council decides to help with the housing costs, then the resident needs to find their own private sector accommodations in the district of Hart, or in some instances the council will allow the home to be in the greater Hampshire County. They can use a letting agent for this if they want. The home selected needs to be approved by the Housing Options Officer, it needs to be affordable, and the tenant needs to be able to pay sustain the tenancy by paying the rent on their own.

If the person is issued a loan, they will need to repay it. While the amount will be based on the assessment that is complete, it will generally be about £20 per month, but the amount can change based on assessments that are done. Also, if a guarantee is issued for the rent deposit, then the tenant will need to save a portion of their income to take over the bond after 6 months.

The Housing team in Hart can be contacted at (01252) 77442, or drop in at the Civic Offices. Residents can learn about the services available to them.


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