Housing Services are responsible for:
- the assessment of housing need,
- allocation of Council housing,
- nominations to Housing Associations,
- homelessness and housing advice,
- sale of Council houses and flats,
- special needs and adaptations,
- rent collection and arrears control,
- estate management,
- maintenance,
- repairs and
- improvements to Council housing and tenant involvement.
Leaving home
Leaving home is a big decision. Some people leave home to start an independent life, which can be very exciting but also daunting. Others leave home because they have no choice.
The Government considers that it is generally in the best interests of 16 and 17 year olds to live in their family home unless it would be unsafe or unsuitable for them to do so because they would be at risk of violence or abuse.
If you are 16 or 17 and have been in care for a certain period of time, you remain the responsibility of Social Services until you are 18. They may be able to provide financial support and help you find a place of your own or provide accommodation for you. If you are leaving care and have concerns over accommodation, you should contact Social Services for advice by telephoning 0845 603 7267.
Although leaving home can give you your own space and independence it is important to consider whether you can:
Ø Manage a budget for rent, council tax, electricity and gas bills, food, travel, clothing and going out
Ø Live on a more restricted budget or perhaps live on benefits
Ø Cook for yourself and manage a home
Ø Live away from the support of family and friends
By using the navigation bar on the left you can find out more about housing options.
Renting accommodation
Private renting
Most young people who leave home will find themselves living in private rented accommodation although finding good quality rented accommodation that you can afford can be hard.
Until you are 18 years old it may be difficult to find a landlord willing to rent a property to you unless you have a guarantor. This is someone who will guarantee that the rent will be paid.
When you rent a property, a deposit will normally be required. You will be able to get this back at the end of the tenancy providing that the property has not been damaged during the tenancy.
If you are thinking about renting accommodation privately you should think about the following:
· How much you can afford to pay each week/month
· What facilities you want (such as central heating or a garden)
· What size property you need (for example a bedsit or two bedroom flat)
· The location (near to public transport, shops, schools, work)
· Who you want to live with (such as being a lodger in someone’s home, live on your own or have flat mates)
Private rented accommodation can either be self contained or shared with other people. It is very important that you are realistic about what you can afford as you may not be able to find exactly what you want.
Most young people under the age of 25 who leave home are only able to afford to live in a room in a shared house.
Bedsits are normally single rooms in large houses, they can be self - contained with a small kitchen and bathroom or a living/bed room with kitchens and bathrooms shared with other people.
Flat or house share is normally a flat or house where people live together and share the kitchen, lounge and bathroom. Groups of friends often set up flat and house shares and may advertise when someone leaves.
Lodgings/room in someone’s home is where people often take in lodgers to help cover their rent or mortgage payments. Living with your landlord and sharing their house will mean that you are living there under a licence and not a tenancy. This means that you have less security and fewer rights because you only have the landlord’s permission rather than a legal right to stay in the property
You can find out about properties that are available to rent by checking adverts in shop windows, local papers, letting agents and through personal contacts.
Council housing
Most people over the age of 16 can apply to join the housing register. It does not matter where you live or how long you have lived in this or another area. But there are certain people who are not allowed to join the Housing Register and these are:
- People subject to immigration control under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996; or
- People who the Council considers would be unsuitable as tenants because they or a member of their household have been responsible for unacceptable behaviour.
To join Tendring District Council’s Housing Register you will need to complete an application form. This is available for downloading from Tendring District Council’s website www.tendringdc.gov.uk or it can be completed on line.
Your application will be awarded points according to your housing need and personal circumstances.
However, there is a shortage of Council properties in Tendring and there are a large number of people on our Housing Register. This means that, for many people, it is unlikely that they will be housed by the Council.
If you are offered Council accommodation, this will be self contained and unfurnished so you would have to buy or obtain all your own furniture, carpets, appliances and other household items.
Housing associations.
Housing associations are non profit making organisations (also known as Registered Social Landlords) and they provide properties for people to rent. These properties normally have lower rent levels and greater security of tenure than private rented accommodation.
There are two routes you can take to be considered for a housing association property. You can apply directly to the relevant housing association or to the local council which may then 'nominate' you for a property. In both cases, you will have to join a waiting list, which, depending on where you live, may be very long. Some housing associations will not consider you unless you meet certain criteria, for example, your age or income may not suit their nomination procedure to offer you housing.
There are several housing associations in the Council's area and in the majority of cases the Council has nomination rights to their housing. The Council will consider nominating you for a suitable vacancy if you have sufficient priority on the Housing Register.
Housing associations cannot usually help those under 18 but there are some specialist supported schemes for young pregnant women, young mothers and single young people who are over 16 years old.
Tenancy agreements
Whatever type of property you rent, you will be asked to sign a tenancy agreement (unless you are living somewhere under a licence agreement). The tenancy agreement will set out the conditions of the tenancy, that is the things that you and your landlord must and must not do, and also how much the rent is.
Landlords are generally responsible for the following:
Ø Repairs to the structure and outside of the property
Ø Repairs to baths, sinks and toilets
Ø Repairs to and maintenance of the heating and hot water system
Ø Safety of gas and electrical appliances
Ø Whatever else is included in the tenancy agreement.
Tenants are generally responsible for the following:
Ø Paying rent and any agreed service charges
Ø Taking good care of the property and using it in a responsible way
Ø Whatever else is included in the tenancy agreement
Local Housing Allowance
Local Housing Allowance (also known as housing benefit) is paid by local councils to people on benefits and low incomes to help them pay their rent.
You may be able to claim housing benefit towards your rent if you are over 16, earning a low wage or are on benefits.
If you are single, under 25 and renting from a private landlord, the Local Housing Allowance will normally be restricted to the ‘Shared Room Rate’, which will only be equivalent to the cost of renting a single room in a shared house
Buying your own home
This is a long term option and is only likely to be possible if you are in permanent employment as you will need a mortgage.
If you are under 18 you will not be able to apply for a mortgage to buy accommodation. This is because you cannot own property in your own right although it can be held in trust for you until you reach 18.
You can find out more about buying your own home from the Buying your home section on the Directgov website.
HomeBuy
Homebuy is a Government led initiative that enables eligible individuals and families to become home owners by offering them help in a number of ways. Tendring District Council works with Moat Housing Association who are the Government appointed agent for Homebuy in Essex, Kent and Sussex. You can find out more about the options available through Homebuy by going to their website www.homebuy.co.uk
Homelessness
The Council has certain duties to people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. If you have been asked to leave your home, you should make an appointment to see a Homelessness Officer at the Council. During this appointment, they will ask you questions about your housing situation and give you advice. The Council may refer you and your family to a local mediation service to help you sort out your problems.
If you are 16 or 17 the Council will not be able to give you a bedsit, flat or house because of your age. The Council will need to refer you to Social Services as they may have a duty to provide you with somewhere to live.
If you are homeless and Social Services do not have a duty to you, the Council may refer you to a supported housing project or the Council’s Supported Lodgings Scheme.
Supported lodgings provide a young person with a room of their own in a private home where they are a member of the household. The supported lodgings provider or host provides a safe and supportive environment for young people in preparation for them moving on into independent living.
Supported lodgings may also be used as respite for a young person whilst mediation takes place between them and their family with the aim that they eventually return to their family home.
Leaving home is a big decision. Some people leave home to start an independent life, which can be very exciting but also daunting. Others leave home because they have no choice.
The Government considers that it is generally in the best interests of 16 and 17 year olds to live in their family home unless it would be unsafe or unsuitable for them to do so because they would be at risk of violence or abuse.
If you are 16 or 17 and have been in care for a certain period of time, you remain the responsibility of Social Services until you are 18. They may be able to provide financial support and help you find a place of your own or provide accommodation for you. If you are leaving care and have concerns over accommodation, you should contact Social Services for advice by telephoning 0845 603 7267.
Although leaving home can give you your own space and independence it is important to consider whether you can:
Ø Manage a budget for rent, council tax, electricity and gas bills, food, travel, clothing and going out
Ø Live on a more restricted budget or perhaps live on benefits
Ø Cook for yourself and manage a home
Ø Live away from the support of family and friends
By using the navigation bar on the left you can find out more about housing options.
Renting accommodation
Private renting
Most young people who leave home will find themselves living in private rented accommodation although finding good quality rented accommodation that you can afford can be hard.
Until you are 18 years old it may be difficult to find a landlord willing to rent a property to you unless you have a guarantor. This is someone who will guarantee that the rent will be paid.
When you rent a property, a deposit will normally be required. You will be able to get this back at the end of the tenancy providing that the property has not been damaged during the tenancy.
If you are thinking about renting accommodation privately you should think about the following:
· How much you can afford to pay each week/month
· What facilities you want (such as central heating or a garden)
· What size property you need (for example a bedsit or two bedroom flat)
· The location (near to public transport, shops, schools, work)
· Who you want to live with (such as being a lodger in someone’s home, live on your own or have flat mates)
Private rented accommodation can either be self contained or shared with other people. It is very important that you are realistic about what you can afford as you may not be able to find exactly what you want.
Most young people under the age of 25 who leave home are only able to afford to live in a room in a shared house.
Bedsits are normally single rooms in large houses, they can be self - contained with a small kitchen and bathroom or a living/bed room with kitchens and bathrooms shared with other people.
Flat or house share is normally a flat or house where people live together and share the kitchen, lounge and bathroom. Groups of friends often set up flat and house shares and may advertise when someone leaves.
Lodgings/room in someone’s home is where people often take in lodgers to help cover their rent or mortgage payments. Living with your landlord and sharing their house will mean that you are living there under a licence and not a tenancy. This means that you have less security and fewer rights because you only have the landlord’s permission rather than a legal right to stay in the property
You can find out about properties that are available to rent by checking adverts in shop windows, local papers, letting agents and through personal contacts.
Council housing
Most people over the age of 16 can apply to join the housing register. It does not matter where you live or how long you have lived in this or another area. But there are certain people who are not allowed to join the Housing Register and these are:
- People subject to immigration control under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996; or
- People who the Council considers would be unsuitable as tenants because they or a member of their household have been responsible for unacceptable behaviour.
To join Tendring District Council’s Housing Register you will need to complete an application form. This is available for downloading from Tendring District Council’s website www.tendringdc.gov.uk or it can be completed on line.
Your application will be awarded points according to your housing need and personal circumstances.
However, there is a shortage of Council properties in Tendring and there are a large number of people on our Housing Register. This means that, for many people, it is unlikely that they will be housed by the Council.
If you are offered Council accommodation, this will be self contained and unfurnished so you would have to buy or obtain all your own furniture, carpets, appliances and other household items.
Housing associations.
Housing associations are non profit making organisations (also known as Registered Social Landlords) and they provide properties for people to rent. These properties normally have lower rent levels and greater security of tenure than private rented accommodation.
There are two routes you can take to be considered for a housing association property. You can apply directly to the relevant housing association or to the local council which may then 'nominate' you for a property. In both cases, you will have to join a waiting list, which, depending on where you live, may be very long. Some housing associations will not consider you unless you meet certain criteria, for example, your age or income may not suit their nomination procedure to offer you housing.
There are several housing associations in the Council's area and in the majority of cases the Council has nomination rights to their housing. The Council will consider nominating you for a suitable vacancy if you have sufficient priority on the Housing Register.
Housing associations cannot usually help those under 18 but there are some specialist supported schemes for young pregnant women, young mothers and single young people who are over 16 years old.
Tenancy agreements
Whatever type of property you rent, you will be asked to sign a tenancy agreement (unless you are living somewhere under a licence agreement). The tenancy agreement will set out the conditions of the tenancy, that is the things that you and your landlord must and must not do, and also how much the rent is.
Landlords are generally responsible for the following:
Ø Repairs to the structure and outside of the property
Ø Repairs to baths, sinks and toilets
Ø Repairs to and maintenance of the heating and hot water system
Ø Safety of gas and electrical appliances
Ø Whatever else is included in the tenancy agreement.
Tenants are generally responsible for the following:
Ø Paying rent and any agreed service charges
Ø Taking good care of the property and using it in a responsible way
Ø Whatever else is included in the tenancy agreement
Local Housing Allowance
Local Housing Allowance (also known as housing benefit) is paid by local councils to people on benefits and low incomes to help them pay their rent.
You may be able to claim housing benefit towards your rent if you are over 16, earning a low wage or are on benefits.
If you are single, under 25 and renting from a private landlord, the Local Housing Allowance will normally be restricted to the ‘Shared Room Rate’, which will only be equivalent to the cost of renting a single room in a shared house
Buying your own home
This is a long term option and is only likely to be possible if you are in permanent employment as you will need a mortgage.
If you are under 18 you will not be able to apply for a mortgage to buy accommodation. This is because you cannot own property in your own right although it can be held in trust for you until you reach 18.
You can find out more about buying your own home from the Buying your home section on the Directgov website.
HomeBuy
Homebuy is a Government led initiative that enables eligible individuals and families to become home owners by offering them help in a number of ways. Tendring District Council works with Moat Housing Association who are the Government appointed agent for Homebuy in Essex, Kent and Sussex. You can find out more about the options available through Homebuy by going to their website www.homebuy.co.uk
Homelessness
The Council has certain duties to people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. If you have been asked to leave your home, you should make an appointment to see a Homelessness Officer at the Council. During this appointment, they will ask you questions about your housing situation and give you advice. The Council may refer you and your family to a local mediation service to help you sort out your problems.
If you are 16 or 17 the Council will not be able to give you a bedsit, flat or house because of your age. The Council will need to refer you to Social Services as they may have a duty to provide you with somewhere to live.
If you are homeless and Social Services do not have a duty to you, the Council may refer you to a supported housing project or the Council’s Supported Lodgings Scheme.
Supported lodgings provide a young person with a room of their own in a private home where they are a member of the household. The supported lodgings provider or host provides a safe and supportive environment for young people in preparation for them moving on into independent living.
Supported lodgings may also be used as respite for a young person whilst mediation takes place between them and their family with the aim that they eventually return to their family home.