Housing Solicitors

Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet has approved a groundbreaking pilot scheme to help people suffering a short-term housing crisis.

The council’s cabinet has approved a recommendation to allocate a total of £30,000 in loans for the initiative – the loans will be accessed via a credit union to help people pay a month’s rent in advance.

The council says that finding the first month’s rent for accommodation is often a major stumbling block to people finding a tenancy. The loan will be repaid over ten years and the money will then be recycled to help other tenants find the first month’s rent for accommodation.

The scheme was announced followed a three-month inquiry on behalf of the council’s Finance, Performance and Resources Select Committee.

The group found that many people were being blocked from securing their own tenancy because despite being able to pay the deposit, they cannot find the cash for the first month’s rent, which is usually required in advance.

In a speech to Buckinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet in November, Inquiry Chairman Councillor Steven Lambert recommended that a pilot scheme be introduced with two local credit unions.

“This is designed to initially help around 60 people across the county – with more people being able to access the funds as the loan is repaid and the money recycled,” said Cllr Lambert.

The scheme will help approved prospective rental tenants, who would not normally meet the eligibility criteria because they do not have the 13-week history the credit unions expect.

“By working with partners – such as the credit unions – we believe that the scheme really will close that gap and close the circle of despair that people can find themselves in,” Mr Lambert added.

“We as an authority will be seen as a trailblazer and as our recommendations set out, we can seek to address those with the highest level of complex needs and end that circle of despair – but with such a modest sum of money, we could make a big difference.”

Crisis loans previously administered by the Department for Work and Pensions – and for which people could apply to cover the cost of rent-in-advance – ceased to exist when the council took on the administration of the local emergency support.

Some councillors in Buckinghamshire questioned spending £30,000 on the scheme at a time of budget constraints.

However, the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health, Martin Phillips, said:

“It’s not lost money. In terms of social value, for basically very little investment we are getting a lot return – and it seems quite a clever way of using our money in a time when interest rates are so low.

“We fully support crisis support – and, in fact, will allocate £50,000 to this and other crises that may occur in people's lives.

“This will be an interest-free loan over 10 years.”
Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors
Duncan Lewis housing solicitors are able to advice homebuyers, homeowners, rental tenants and social housing tenants on a wide range of housing matters, including:

• Conveyancing services
• Debt management
• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Housing possession
• Landlord & Tenant disputes
• Local Authority housing
• Mortgage repossession
• Nuisance neighbours
• Right-to-Buy
• Tenancy agreements
• Unlawful eviction.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.