FOI request (FOIR-154821535)

Tenancy deposit

Requested Mon 04 November 2019
Responded  Thu 21 November 2019

Response

Q1 - Yes

Q2 - Yes, c. a guarantee or bond

Q3 - £180,000 for loans to finance the cost of rent in advance and deposits. £106,700 rent guarantee scheme.

Q4 - Hastings Borough Council offers interest free loans to assist households to finance the cost of rent in advance and a deposit. Households must: Be homeless or have a housing need Have a local connection (resident for 6 of the last 12 months or 3 of the last 5 years) to Hastings (unless exemptions such as rough sleeping or fleeing violence apply) Have found a property to rent that is affordable and suitable for their needs The eligibility for the guarantor scheme is different.

The scheme is available to:

• Individuals and families leaving emergency accommodation

• Individuals and families leaving supported accommodation

• Individuals and families leaving SLA leased properties

• Individuals engaging with the Rapid Rehousing Pathway (project working with clients identified as at risk of rough sleeping) All clients must have a local connection (resident for 6 of the last 12 months or 3 of the last 5 years) to Hastings (unless exemptions such as rough sleeping or fleeing violence apply), and must have found a property to rent that is affordable and suitable for their needs.

The tenancy history of clients will be looked in to, to assess if there is a risk that the client may fall into rent arrears. Each case will be assessed on an individual basis.

Q5 - All clients need to have had a face to face assessment with a Housing Options Officer. If the client is eligible for either or both schemes they will be informed at the assessment and then through on going work that the housing officer does with the client.