UK Bill Help

The government and local council in Greenwich helps the low income pay the rent deposit on private rented housing/accommodations as well as locate a safe and affordable home to live in. The assistance is provided by the HACTRAC bond guarantee scheme, and the Greenwich council provides bonds to cover the deposit as well as helps tenants maintain the home over the years.

Financial help from bonds

HACTRAC is a scheme that does not pay out cash. Rather the Royal Borough of Greenwich Council will provide a bond guarantee for the landlord. It will “pay for” any rent deposit (within reason) as well as help a landlord pay for any rental arrears that may occur over the course of the tenancy agreement, and the guarantee is a form of payment to the property owner.

The property needs to be affordable as well as a private accommodation. The monthly rent also needs to not be more per month than the Local Housing Allowance (LHA). What this means is that the home or flat (in the private market) needs to cost around the same monthly rent (as well as utility bills) as a LHA approved home. This criteria will limit the selection of homes to let in the Greenwich Borough. But the HACTRAC housing scheme will factor in the household size – the number of people in the renters family.

In addition, the landlord needs to agree to the HACTRAC programme. They are not obligated to accept the deposit bond from the council. The tenancy agreement is also one made between the landlord and tenant, so the property owner has that obligation as well on the terms and conditions of said agreement. Most tenancy agreements are between 6 months and a year.

Help in finding housing in Greenwich Borough

It can be challenging to find an afordable private sector home in the Greenwich Borough that falls under the LHA limits. To this end, the Housing Inclusion Service at the council will help some people find an affordable safe home to live in that meets the criteria of the rent bond guarantee.

This assistance is not offered to everyone. It is on a one-off basis. Many of the people whom the Housing Inclusion Service help locate a property to live in are homeless, immigrants, older people or pensioners, disabled, or maybe recovering from domestic violence. The government has limited advisers and with limited homes in the Greenwich borough, help is not wide ranging.

Other housing support in Greenwich

The council partners with many other organisations to address homelessness, debt, mortgage programs and other needs in Greenwich Borough. There are two main options, and they are as follows.

• -Anyone in rental arrears, and who think they may fall behind or that are having trouble coming up with the money for rent can call Housing advisers at The Woolwich Centre at 35 Wellington Street, Woolwich SE18 6HQ. Ring 020 8921 2863.
• -Evictions or threatened with homelessness – Tenants should first try above before it gets too late, but when eviction will be happening because of unpaid rent or utility bills, the Greenwich Housing aid Centre is an option. Ring customer service at 020 8854 8888.

Those assistance programmes are mostly for existing tenants. However, if the property they live in is not sustainable or affordable over time, they too can try the HACTRAC scheme for help moving, as the scheme can pay the deposit that the landlord requires.

Applying for bonds from HACTRAC for guaranteeing deposits

The Housing Inclusion Service is the main council office that will process applications. They can also refer clients to other housing services or government benefits. As far as when in rent arrears with a landlord, look above for the phone numbers. As there are different organisations to call on for those resources. The post of the rent deposit scheme is 5 Wellington Street in Woolwich SE18 6HQ. They cover all of Greenwich Borough. Ring 020 8921 2531.