Housing finance

Dependent on your circumstances there are several offers of help available to you.

For more information about your housing options, see our Accommodation and housing section.

If you need support to move, we can provide suitcases and boxes for your belongings and arrange a removal van, see the removals and moving information below.

Setting-up home allowance

You are entitled to up to £3,000 to spend on furnishing and fittings for your home. This fund is available until you have spent it all.

The things you can spend this on include:

  • washing machine
  • kitchen appliances
  • furniture
  • TV Licence
  • storage

Your personal advisor (PA) will help you to make your home your own. They will go through a list of essential items we think you may need and the estimated costings for these. You can then talk this through and make your choices. They will also support you to purchase these items and arrange for larger items to be delivered to your new home. You can have up to £250 cash from this allowance to purchase smaller items yourself. In order to receive this money, your PA will need to be confident this will be spent on items to set up your home.

We know you will want to spend your money wisely. Your PA will advise you if you are choosing something that is dearer than expected and can be sourced at a cheaper amount. This is to help you make this money cover everything you need to set up your home.

PAs can also look at charities and websites where you may be able to get furniture items for free or pay a small amount for. This can help make your money go that bit further. We will need to make sure electrical items and sofas are safe and follow safety guidelines.

If you are waiting for a decision on your leave to remain, you will not be entitled to your setting up home allowance. This is because all you need at the time will be provided for you.

If you are open to Lifelong Services and do not have a PA, they will contact the Care Leaving Service to access your setting up home allowance funds for you.

If you do not want to access this money before you are 25 years of age; possibly because you are not in your permanent home, you can access this money post 25.

Moving day voucher

In addition to your setting up home allowance, we will also give you a £75 moving in voucher to buy smaller items such as tea towels, saucepans, cups, cutlery, plates and cleaning products. This is so you have these ready on your move-in day.

PAs have a list of where you can find the best prices for these items.

This allowance is available until you are 25 years old.

DIY toolkit

Up until you are 25 years old, your PA can give you a DIY toolkit of useful tools for maintaining your new home including:

  • measuring tape
  • hammer
  • pliers
  • screwdriver

You can pick this up from the team if you are closed to the service.

Rent in advance

We can make discretionary payments for rent in advance. If, following an assessment, we agree to pay your rent in advance, we will pay your first month and you will not need to pay this back. This is because we know it is financially difficult and we do not want you to fall into financial hardship.

If your rent is for advance payment of more than one month’s rent, then we will expect you to set up a repayment plan with your PA to pay this back. This will be in line with when you receive your benefits or wages. If for example, this advanced payment is for a period of 6 months, after 6 months, it is the expectation the landlord will allow you to pay your rent directly to them.

Deposits

We can make discretionary payments for deposits. If you are asked to pay a deposit for a privately rented home, we may liaise with the housing department to see if they will pay this.

Before we would agree to pay a deposit, your PA will complete an assessment of your circumstances and check for suitability of the home and affordability for you. We would need the deposit set up so that it comes back to Care Leavers Service when your tenancy ends.

Guarantor scheme

We do have the discretion to offer a guarantor scheme for you. Following an assessment, we would need to be confident this arrangement is right for you.

You will be able to manage your money, pay your rent on time and keep your home to a good standard. The home would also need to be suitable to your needs and affordable for you.

Holding deposit

If you have to rent privately, this goes through an estate agent. They may ask you for a holding fee to reserve the property for you.

If this is the case, speak to your PA and we will consider if we will pay this. We would need to have some certainty at this stage this is an affordable and suitable home for you.

Removals and moving allowance

Your PA will support you when you are ready to move into a new property.

We will pay for a removal company or van if you are unable to source this yourself. We can also help buy bags and boxes to assist with moving. If you don’t have a suitcase we can provide one to you.

Any cost involved in moving will be covered by the Leaving Care Service.

Council tax

When you live indifferent types of accommodation, you will usually have to pay council tax. This can be expensive - anything between £100 and £180 per month.

We will pay this up until you are 22 years old, wherever you live in the country. If you are entitled to any exemptions, a single person’s discount or council tax benefit, we will support you to apply for these first and we will pay any difference. We will pay 50% if your tenancy is shared with another adult.

Mortgage deposit assistance

To be eligible for this assistance you must have saved at least £5000. We provide £5000 to match your savings. This help is available until you are 25 years of age.

The amount is payable following an assessment of the mortgage offer and confirmation that you have saved the required amount. It also requires agreement from the head of service. Payment is made to the solicitor on completion.