The Wealden Letsure scheme aims to assist people who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness and are unable to afford a deposit for a privately rented property. Furthermore, in some cases assistance may be offered to applicants to help with furnishing a property.
Who can apply?
You will need to have a current application on Wealden’s Housing Register or have recently been rejected; be homeless or threatened with homelessness and have a local connection to the district. You will also be unable to afford a deposit for a tenancy that you have found yourself. Wealden District Council does not find available privately rented properties.
What is Letsure?
Letsure offers either a deposit guarantee or a loan to help with the up-front costs of securing a private tenancy.
The Letsure guarantee is a cashless, financial undertaking between Wealden District Council, the landlord and the tenant. If the application is accepted, Wealden will enter into an undertaking with the landlord and the tenant, guaranteeing to honour the undertaking for up to two years. The term of the guarantee has been increased due to the recent introduction of the Renter’s Rights Act that now means tenants cannot simply be evicted after an initial term of six months. Subsequently, private sector tenants can expect to remain in their privately rented homes for longer periods providing they do not breach their tenancy contract.
During the period the guarantee is in effect, the landlord may make a claim to seek recompense from the undertaking to cover financial loss for rent arrears. If the landlord’s claim is valid and within the terms of the undertaking then financial recompense with be offered. If the landlord is paid under the Deposit Guarantee Scheme, the money will be recovered from the tenant by Wealden District Council.
The Letsure Scheme may be available to:-
- Anyone currently “live” on the Council’s Housing Register
- Anyone who has recently been rejected from the Housing Register
- Anyone being assessed for a Prevention duty
- Anyone being assessed for a Relief duty
- Anyone being assessed for a full Homelessness duty
The Letsure loan is a cash loan paid directly to the landlord by the Council as a tenancy deposit. The tenant repays the loan to the Council interest-free, in monthly instalments. You are responsible for ensuring you receive details about where the deposit is protected under the Tenancy Deposit Protection scheme and providing these details to the Council.
The Letsure loan may be available if you are homeless (or threatened with homelessness), in priority need and not intentionally homeless. You are advised to discuss this option with your Housing Options Officer if you have a homelessness application open.
Eligibility for the guarantee and the loan will be determined according to the applicant’s circumstances. Loans are never paid directly to the applicant but only to the landlord or the landlord’s agents. Loans will not be paid to an applicant or lender in retrospect.
How to apply?
Contact your Housing Options Officer at housingoptions@wealden.gov.uk if you have one. If you have not contacted us before email us at housingoptions@wealden.gov.uk or telephone us on 01323 443380 to check you are eligible.
Once you have been informed you are eligible, find a landlord or letting agent who is ready to rent a property to you.
Other Information
Please also read the sample agreements for the terms and conditions of the scheme:
The application form will usually be processed within 48 hours if you have provided all the information we need, as we realise that most landlords do not want to wait around for an answer when other potential tenants are out there.
Letsure Incentive Scheme
Households who are experiencing financial difficulties with furnishing a newly acquired privately rented property through the Letsure Scheme may be entitled to further assistance. Financial assistance is offered to applicants of the Letsure Scheme moving into privately rented property. It is not available to applicants who are moving into other forms of accommodation such as Council or Housing Association properties.
Wealden District Council has an arrangement with Furniture Now which sells new and good quality second-hand furniture. Assistance may be offered subject to your circumstances.
Wealden District Council will liaise with Furniture Now and arrange an appointment for you to attend their premises to select various items of furniture. The amount of furniture you are entitled to will depend on your circumstances and family size. You are advised to inform this council of your intention to seek assistance with furniture at the same time you request assistance with seeking accommodation housingoptions@wealden.gov.uk