The Rent Bond Scheme helps people who are at risk of homelessness and living in temporary or poor accommodation to move to good quality, affordable accommodation in the private rented sector. We can provide a landlord or letting agent with a bond guarantee for the first six months of a tenancy. During that six months, you will be expected to make regular payments to build up your own cash bond. We may also be able to pay four weeks Local Housing Allowance (LHA) in advance so that you can secure the property whilst your Housing Benefit claim is being fast tracked. Once the claim is completed, the advanced payment will be repaid to the scheme. Payments will then be made every four weeks in arrears directly to the landlord or every two weeks in arrears to you, depending on circumstances. To apply for the scheme, you must have lived in Blackpool for at least six months or have a local connection and be at risk of homelessness through living in temporary, poor or unsuitable accommodation.
To have a local connection you will have:
- lived in Blackpool for at least three out of the last five years or
- close / immediate family (mother, father,brother,sister or adult son or daughter) who live in Blackpool and have lived here for the last five years or
- permanent employment in Blackpool or an offer of a permanent job.
You will be asked to prove your local connection. The proof could be your benefit book or letters addressed to you.
How to apply
If you are working with NACRO, Inward House or the Tower Project your Support Worker can arrange for an appointment. If you are in immediate housing need please visit Housing Advice at South King Street and ask to see a Housing Advice Assessor.
Options will be discussed with you and, if necessary, an appointment will be made for you.
You can contact the scheme yourself by telephoning 01253 477556. We will take your details and place you on our waiting list. You should expect to be waiting 6 - 8 weeks for an appointment. It is important that you don't move in before the appointment otherwise we may not be able to help.
At your interview, you will be asked to provide:
- proof of your household's income, including Child Benefit, Working Family Tax Credit and pensions
- identification such as your passport, driving licence, ID Card, bus pass
- proof of your current address such as your rent book or tenancy agreement
If you have been served notice you need to bring this as well. At your interview you will given a factsheet telling you what happens next.
We use the same criteria to assess everyone who applies for a Rent Bond. There are no special circumstances. We will consider you if you are aged 16 and over, depending on your individual circumstances. |