Mid Suffolk rent deposit loans

Families or individuals local to Mid Suffolk or the Babergh district can get rent deposit help from a council run scheme. The assistance provided will be in the form of an interest free loan, but the money does need to be repaid using an agreed upon payment plan. Any financial aid to pay a deposit will support tenants on Housing Benefits (Local Housing Allowance) only.

The council aims to assist the homeless and those on the verge of it. The rental deposit help is only for people that are close to being financially stable and this is one of the reasons that the authorities use a loan. By offering cash assistance in this method it ensures that the client has a financial interest in addressing the root cause of their crisis, and this is accomplished as they need to repay the funds.

Terms of scheme – People local to Mid Suffolk that are in low paid employment, on government benefits, or living close to poverty can apply. They also need to have no other means to raise the cash they need. The council will only assist individuals with no other friends, family, or even charities that can help them pay the damage deposit.

Loans will only be issued to prospective tenants with a source of income that are not homeless because of anti-social behaviour or being a nuisance. They also need to agree to a monthly repayment plan as part of the rent deposit scheme.

All parties will also need to agree to this 3 way legal arrangement as the contract needs to be signed by the landlord, tenant and council. A legal agreement with the monthly amount to be paid to the Mid Suffolk district council will be created, and it needs to be followed. If loan payments are missed then the council can bring the tenant to housing court.

Housing covered – The tenant is responsible for finding their own home or flat to rent in Babergh or Mid-Suffolk. The authorities will allow the client to use a database to help them locate a property, provide an internet access point or use newspapers to locate a home. The landlord of the property selected will need to agree to the Mid Suffolk district loan scheme and also agree to future rent payments being made by the Local Housing Allowance.

Inspections of the property, both for safety and affordability, will be done by the council. The landlord will need to be able to provide both a Energy Performance as well as Gas Safety Certificate to show the electricity can be turned on. The housing specialist does this to ensure the home is safe to live in.

Only after all this has been done will loans to pay the damage deposit will be provided provided the tenant has at least a six month Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement. If those criteria are not met then another property will need to be found.

The scheme is provided as part of the Mid Suffolk District Council Supported Housing programme. As part of these various criteria, if there are any disputes that arise after applying or during the tenancy agreement then mediation will be done by the housing specialist at the council office. Families local to the district can drop in at 131 High Street, Needham Market, Ipswich, IP6 8DL to apply. Or they can 01473 82575 or send an email to customer.services@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk. This will start the application process.