Private renting
Due to the waiting times for social housing being lengthy, we always offer those approaching for advice and assistance with their housing, advice on renting in the private sector.
While this may prove challenging, applicants can and do find homes and move on successfully. Below is some advice that you could consider when seeking a home, especially in cases where you may not be able to wait for an offer of social housing.
Shelter has some excellent advice about private renting. See Private renting
We are aware that private renting may be unaffordable, but we can help and refer for support with finances. If properties in your preferred area are unaffordable, you may need to consider widening the search area. To help you, you can do an entitled too calculation. This will let you determine what you may be able to afford and if you may be entitled to any financial assistance.
See Homelessness prevention tool.
This will also show you comparable areas and the average rents so that you are able to identify which areas might be more affordable for you. If you are not able to afford the areas you want, you may need to search a wider area.
You can also look for properties via local letting agents, and for national listings on websites such as Right Move, Zoopla and On the Market for example.
Adverts can also be found in local newspapers, shop windows or social media. Friends and family might also be aware of properties becoming available. Current law means letting agents should not make upfront charges for properties and many properties now are offered with zero deposit. The government have produced a guide for prospective tenants regarding fees in general.
See Tenant Fees Act 2019: Guidance for tenants (GOV.UK).
If you find a property that you can rent and you require further information regarding the safety and suitability or how to rent a property, contact the private sector housing team at the council where the property is located. See also How to rent (GOV.UK)
Finally, there is further information on GOV.UK on shared ownership and other affordable rent options, such as intermediate rents which may be an alternative you could consider.
See Renting a property (GOV.UK).