The LeicesterLet home finder scheme provides people on a low income with the opportunity to move into a home of their choice and to avoid homelessness AND a stay in temporary accommodation.

 

By providing the advice, support and financial help required, the Council has increased the housing options available to people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

 

Managed by the Council’s Housing Options Prevention Team, the home finder scheme is very flexible.  It can be used, for example, to prevent private tenants from becoming homeless by helping them to find alternative accommodation when their existing tenancy is coming to an end.

 

The scheme also offers great benefits to landlords or letting agents. Leicester City Council will provide the deposit and rent in advance to a landlord or letting agent in order to obtain accommodation for a client in the private rented sector.

 

Before a property can be let under the home finder scheme, the Council will carry out a series of checks to ensure that it is affordable, safe and fit for habitation.

 

An officer from the Housing Options Prevention Team will inspect the property to check that is in a reasonable condition.  If there is a gas supply, they will request a valid gas safety certificate.

 

Under the LeicesterLet home finder scheme, letting agreements will normally be assured shorthold tenancies of at least 12 months.

 

Although not everyone helped under the home finder scheme is living on a low income, applicants will only be considered for the scheme if the Housing Options Prevention Team is satisfied that they are capable of paying their rent regularly and in full.

 

If the tenant is entitled to housing benefit, all of the housing benefit they receive will be paid directly to the landlord unless the landlord says that they are unwilling to accept direct payments.

 

For more information on the scheme, contact:

The Housing Options Prevention Team

Housing Options Service

Phoenix House
1 King Street

Leicester.

Tel: (0116) 252 8707
(public access via Welford Place)