UK Bill Help

Residents of the Bedford Borough that are in priority need of housing can get various forms of assistance from the council, including a guarantee to help pay the deposit. The council will partner with the landlord and tenant to cover expenses that are worth up to one month of rent payments.

The local authorities offer other help as well to eligible families. This includes everything from assistance in locating a property in the private sector to ongoing free advice to the tenant to prevent future homelessness. A Support Officer will also be assigned to the applicant to partner with them on applying for the deposit bond as well as other services which the Bedford Borough Council may offer.

Form of assistance from the deposit scheme

This is not a cash assistance programme. Instead the authorities will issue a private landlord (who agrees to participate) a bond for the deposit expense. The total amount covered by this guarantee will be equivalent to up to one month worth of rent expense, provided the flat or home is affordable.

A contract will need to be signed by both the landlord and tenant to agree to this form of payment. The agreement will state what happens if there is damage to the home at the end of the tenancy, and what the next steps will be at that time. The landlord will be advised as to how to file a claim with the Bedford Borough Council, and the tenant will need to agree that they are responsible for any damages.

The bond will only last for up to 6 months. At the ongoing of that period of time the situation will be reviewed. If needed, the scheme may be extended at the discretion of the council. Or they may require the family to take on the deposit themselves from the money they earned over the previous 6 months.

Eligibility criteria for help in Bedford Borough

This is only for people that are in priority need. This will be the vulnerable and homeless in the community. Priority is for parents with dependent children, women that are pregnant, or the disabled. The applicant will also only be eligible for deposit help if they have a strong tenancy history in the past. So they can’t have been in arrears on their rent or damaged any properties in the past.

When applying, the housing options team needs proof of ID, income, bank statements, and references. The Bedford Borough deposit scheme is a discretionary programme, and the council is under no obligation to provide support.

When it comes to the property, the home will be inspected for both affordability and to ensure it is safe to live in. It needs to meet standards set by both local and government laws and fall within all guidelines. Deposit help will not be provided to a home that is un-affordable and in which the families income will not allow them to pay the future rent on their own.

The Bedford Council can help the family locate a property as they have information on landlords that are local to the borough. Or the person can find their own home.

After a bond has been issued to pay for the security deposit, the client is given a Support Officer. This is their partner throughout the tenancy agreement. They will visit the home to ensure it is maintained, liaison with landlords, help the person apply for benefits, and offer other free advice. All of this is done in an effort to keep the family in the home and prevent future evictions in Bedford Borough.

For an appointment, the Bedford Borough Council has a post of Town Hall. The phone number to call is 01234 221785.