Breckland Council Rent Deposit Loan Scheme provides a loan to allow people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness to rent a property in the private sector, when they have no funds to put down a deposit and rent in advance.
How the scheme works
The scheme will make loans to cover one month’s rent in advance, and a damage deposit which is equivalent to or less than one month’s rent. It will not cover any additional deposit requirements or charges such as credit checks.
Who is eligible?
At the present time the scheme is available to those households in the Breckland District who are homeless or threatened with homelessness if they have no funds.
How to apply for the scheme
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness the first step is to contact a Housing Advisery Officer, who will examine your housing options with you.
Carrying out an assessment
We will carry out a financial assessment of your income and outgoings, and we will only help you if we believe the property will be affordable to you in the medium to long term. We will also use this financial assessment to draw up a repayment plan which will be affordable to you, if we decide to offer you a loan.
Finding a property to rent
If your Housing Advisery Officer advises you you are eligible for the scheme, the next step is to find a property you wish to rent. You will need to be realistic about what properties will be suitable and affordable for you.
If we believe the property is suitable for your needs and affordable for you, we will speak to the landlord or agent to make sure they are happy to accept the scheme. Most landlords are happy to do so, as the money is paid direct to them, just like you have paid it yourself.
Moving in
Once we have the landlord’s agreement, we will arrange to meet you and the landlord at the property, where we can sign the agreements between the Council, yourselves and the landlord. We will carry out an inventory of the property so we can check the condition of the property and any furniture and fittings, and the tenancy agreement is usually signed at, or a few days after, this meeting.
The scheme normally applies to Assured Shorthold tenancy agreements of at least six months, but we will consider other arrangements, such as a shared house or renting a room in someone’s home, if we feel this is the most suitable solution for you.
Repaying the loan
You can then move into your property and start repaying the loan at the agreed rate. If your income changes, it is your responsibility to let us know, and we will adjust your repayment amounts accordingly.
Tenancy deposit protection
Please note that if your prospective landlord does ask for a deposit, your landlord is obliged upon receipt to protect it using a government authorised tenancy deposit scheme which started in April 2007. The Council may have to become a party to the arrangements for protecting the deposit in a particular case, because it is a loan. We will discuss this with you if it becomes the case.
It is important to note that to ensure that you receive your deposit back, you keep the property in the same condition as it was when you moved in, allowing for fair wear and tear.
More information about tenancy deposit protection can be found in the 'Essential Guide for Tenants'
At the end of your tenancy
At the end of your tenancy, if you have repaid the loan and your landlord says there is no damage to the property (we can use our inventory to check this), your damage deposit will be returned to you in full. If you have not finished repaying the loan we will calculate what you owe and repay any difference. You are responsible for any damage or outstanding rent claims, and these will be taken into account in our final calculation.
Essential Guide for Tenants
We have created a comprehensive booklet for tenants called the 'Essential Guide for Tenants'. You will find loads of information about your rights and responsibilities and will no doubt be a useful resource for anyone looking to rent privately.
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