Renting privately
High demand for social housing
There's incredibly high demand for housing in Derby and there are not enough properties for everyone on the housing register. There are always more people wanting to be housed than homes will ever be available.
It can be difficult for us to say when you will be offered a home, most people may never receive an offer.
We understand how important it is to be near friends, family, and support services. Limiting the areas, you want to live, or landlords you want housing with, will affect our ability to help you even if you have a high priority for housing.
Help finding a home
Most people are more likely to find a new home in an area of their choice by renting from a private landlord.
You can find privately rented properties:
- online
- at estate agents
- on local noticeboards
- in newspapers
How we can help you
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, we may be able to help you secure a private rented property or stay in your current home.
We can:
- give you advice and assistance about private rented options
- talk to any potential landlords or agents on your behalf
- mediate between you and your current landlord to try and resolve any issues
- carry out checks to make sure you can afford the rent of new or existing home
- offer an interest free grant or loan to help cover the cost of securing a tenancy
- refer you to agencies that can help with money management, debt, or other barriers that may be stopping you from getting your own tenancy
- help you to claim any benefits you may be entitled to and request they are sent direct to your landlord
- Inspect a property to make sure it is safe for you to live in
Your landlord must follow a legal process if they want to evict you. If you have been threatened with eviction. Make sure you know your rights as a tenant.
Making sure you can afford the rent
Finding the right property also means making sure you can afford the rent. You may be able to get help to pay your rent from Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. You can check if you’re eligible and how much you can receive on the Direct Gov website.
We will carry out a full financial assessment with you to work out what you can afford.
The amount of benefit your entitled to depends on how many bedrooms you need and the income you receive.
The maximum amounts are called Local Housing Allowance rates. Read more about Local housing allowance - Derby City Council.
If your rent is more than the Local Housing Allowance rate for your family size, you will have to pay the difference.
To see what rate of Local Housing Allowance applies to you, go to: https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/bedroomcalculator.aspx.
Eligibility
To be eligible for help from us, you must:
- Have a right to live and work in the UK
- Have a local connection to Derby
- Be Over 18
- Be entitled to receive public funds
- Be assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness with the next 56-days
Advice for Landlords
We offer FREE, specialist advice for private landlords in Derby, who are considering serving a S21 or S8 notice for any reason.
Our offer:
- Support for you, in what can be a very stressful time
- Mediation service between you and your tenant
- Help to create a personalised housing plan for you and your tenant
- Help to resolve rent arrears and a financial assessment service
- Advice and assistance for your tenants to help them sustain their tenancy with you
- Referrals and signposting to specialist services for longer-term support, if needed
- Advice and signposting about leasing your property to supported housing providers
- Arrange for housing benefit payments to be paid directly to you (or your agent) instead of the tenant
Evicting tenants is an expensive and time-consuming process. Our aim is to support both you and your tenants to sustain long term accommodation. We can also help find tenants for your empty properties, reducing the time your property remains vacant.
Our caseworkers have a wealth of knowledge on housing, welfare benefits, homelessness legislation and housing related issues.
Eligibility
We will only work with landlords whose properties meet the below specification.
The standards we expect:
- Clean, well maintained and presented properties
- Smoke alarms that meet relevant fire safety regulations
- Suitable carbon monoxide alarm(s)
- All structural elements of the property should operate as designed and be in reasonable condition and repair
- Valid electrical safety certificate (must be provided)
- Valid gas-safe certificate (must be provided)
- Valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rated E or above (unless exempt)
- Fully furnished properties should include suitable furniture and white goods in reasonable condition that meet relevant fire safety regulations
You can read more guidance on GOV.UK.
A surveyor will carry out an inspection to ensure your property meets these requirements.
You will remain responsible for managing all aspects of the tenancy, including repairs, maintenance and recovering rent from tenants.
Contact us
The Private Rented Sector Access Team
Email: [email protected]
01332 956 4444