Home Finders Payment Scheme - Westminster City Council
Home Finders Payment Scheme - Westminster City Council
Home Finders Payment Scheme - Westminster City Council
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What happens if the deposit is less than the money<br />
paid by the <strong>Council</strong>?<br />
Any amount left over after paying your deposit can be<br />
put towards the cost of removal fees, household items<br />
or bills.<br />
<strong>Home</strong> <strong>Finders</strong><br />
<strong>Payment</strong> <strong>Scheme</strong><br />
Helping you find a home<br />
what happens if the deposit is more than the money<br />
paid by the <strong>Council</strong>?<br />
You will need to make up any shortfall. However,<br />
if the shortfall is too large, we will not give you money<br />
for a deposit.<br />
We are unable to pay more than the amounts specified<br />
in this leaflet. You need to ensure that you can afford<br />
the deposit before signing a tenancy agreement.<br />
Can I end my tenancy after 12 months and be<br />
considered for another <strong>Home</strong> <strong>Finders</strong> <strong>Payment</strong>?<br />
No. This is a one off payment to help you secure a<br />
home in the private sector. We would expect that your<br />
tenancy will be renewed for a further period and in<br />
the event that your tenancy is lawfully brought to an<br />
end, your existing deposit can be used to secure<br />
another property.<br />
Please be advised that if you are found to have<br />
made yourself intentionally homeless, the <strong>Council</strong><br />
has no legal duty to re-house you.<br />
What happens if my tenancy doesn’t last 12 months?<br />
You will have to refund the money paid to you by<br />
the <strong>Council</strong> towards your deposit unless there are<br />
exceptional circumstances.<br />
If you are experiencing difficulties with your landlord<br />
please contact our Housing Options Service or your<br />
Local Law Centre for advice on how to resolve these<br />
issues as they occur.<br />
Useful Contacts<br />
For more advice and information please contact your<br />
Housing Options Adviser on 020 7641 1000
What is the <strong>Home</strong> <strong>Finders</strong> <strong>Payment</strong> <strong>Scheme</strong>?<br />
We will give you money to help you to find a home with<br />
a private landlord.<br />
Offering you more choice of area in which to live.<br />
Offering you a wider choice of property that is suitable<br />
for you and your family.<br />
Most landlords want a deposit (returnable at the end of<br />
the tenancy) when granting someone a tenancy<br />
agreement. This is usually as much as one month’s rent.<br />
Unit Size<br />
Studio flat/1 bedroom flat £1,000<br />
2 bedroom flat/house £1,400<br />
3 bedroom flat/ house (or larger) £2,000<br />
Amount Payable<br />
To help you, the following sums can be given to you. We will<br />
assess the size of the accommodation you and your family<br />
need and pay the appropriate amount.<br />
How does it work?<br />
Step 1 - Your Housing Options Adviser will decide whether<br />
you are eligible for the scheme based on certain criteria<br />
and whether you are at risk of becoming homeless.<br />
They will also explain how the scheme works and how<br />
many rooms you need.<br />
Step 2 - You agree that you will use the money given<br />
as a deposit for a home in the private rented sector, and<br />
provide us with your bank details.<br />
Step 3 - To help you secure a property, we will give you<br />
a letter confirming we will make payment to you towards<br />
your deposit, providing the written tenancy agreement is<br />
for at least 12 months.<br />
Step 4 - You find a property that is suitable.<br />
Step 5 - You provide a copy of your tenancy agreement<br />
which must be for at least 12 months.<br />
We need to know the address of the property, size,<br />
the tenancy start date and the rent to be charged.<br />
Step 6 - We will pay the agreed sum either into your<br />
bank account or by cheque.<br />
Frequently asked questions<br />
If I am turned down for this scheme can I appeal?<br />
No. This scheme is discretionary. In other words, it is a<br />
scheme that we choose to offer and there is no obligation<br />
upon us to pay these sums. We will be fair and consistent in<br />
administering the scheme but the judgement of the Housing<br />
Options Service is final.<br />
<strong>Payment</strong>s will only be made where it is judged that the person<br />
or family is at risk of being homeless within the foreseeable<br />
future.<br />
Do I have to find a new home in <strong>Westminster</strong>?<br />
No, you are free to choose a home anywhere<br />
This scheme is only about the deposit. You must be satisfied<br />
that you can afford the rent and ensure that, if necessary you<br />
claim Housing Benefit as soon as you’re able. Your Housing<br />
Options Adviser can advise you and find out what the housing<br />
benefit payments are likely to be.<br />
What size property should I look for?<br />
Your Housing Options Adviser will advise you of the property<br />
size you require, based on the size of your household.<br />
Would I still qualify for a <strong>Home</strong> <strong>Finders</strong> payment<br />
if I sign a tenancy for less than 12 months?<br />
No.<br />
Can the <strong>Council</strong> pay my removal fees?<br />
No.<br />
What is the maximum Housing Benefit that can<br />
be paid for a property?<br />
If you are entitled to Housing Benefit, the rent charged<br />
by your landlord must be within the maximum level of<br />
Housing Benefit in the area that you can claim.<br />
Your Housing Options Adviser will be able to tell you how<br />
to do this if the property is in <strong>Westminster</strong> and give you<br />
guidance if your proposed accommodation is elsewhere.<br />
Will the <strong>Home</strong> <strong>Finders</strong> <strong>Payment</strong> affect my Housing<br />
Benefit entitlement?<br />
No. Any <strong>Home</strong> <strong>Finders</strong> <strong>Payment</strong> you receive will be<br />
ignored when calculating your Housing Benefit.