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Housing Options
When you leave home you'll probably end up renting a house or a room in a house because, unless you have lots of money, a job and are over 18, you will not be able to buy a place.
There are different types of rented accommodation available:
Shared housing where you live with other people. You'll have your own bedroom with furniture and share a kitchen and bathroom. This is often a good option if you're leaving home for the first time as it's cheaper than living on your own and there are people around if you want to talk to someone.
Lodgings where you rent a furnished room in the landlord's house and usually share their bathroom and kitchen. It can be one of the cheaper options, there are likely to be other people around if you want to talk to someone, but you'll have to fit in with the landlord's routines.
Self contained flats and houses where you live on your own. These may have furniture or might be unfurnished and are the most expensive option.
Bedsits which are usually one self-contained room with cooking facilities and a shared bathroom. They are less expensive than flats or houses.
You rent accommodation from a landlord and there are different types of landlord around:
Councils which usually offer unfurnished accommodation.
Who can apply? Anyone over 16 who lives in the UK, but councils will not always offer people a tenancy (the legal agreement you sign to rent a place) to people who are under 18. To find out the policy in your local area, contact your local housing department or speak to your Personal Adviser.
How do I apply? Contact your local housing department for a form. As there are not enough council homes for everyone, there's a waiting list for housing and a point system is used to decide who is in the greatest need of a house. It can take a long time to get allocated council accommodation.
Housing Associations and Registered Social Landlords which usually offer unfurnished accommodation. They often have housing specifically for young people with workers that offer help and support to people who have just left home. This is called supported housing. Some supported housing specialise in helping young people get qualifications and find a job – these places are called Foyers. For more information, visit their website
www.foyer.net
Who can apply? Anyone over 16 who lives in the UK but, like councils, not all housing associations always offer tenancies to people who are under 18. To find out the policy in your local area, contact your local housing department or speak to your Personal Adviser.
How do I apply? There are different ways of applying to different housing associations and social landords. Speak to your Personal Adviser who should be able to advise you which ones to contact and how.
Private rented housing is accommodation that is not rented from a council, housing association or social landlord, but is rented from an individual landlord or through a letting agent. It is often furnished. You can find out what's available to rent from looking in the paper, in newsagents' windows and from estate agents who often have lists of properties.
Who can apply? Anyone can apply for private rented housing and it's up to the landlord who they decide to house.
How do I apply? You will need to apply to each individual landlord or agent. Landlords often want a deposit equivalent to at least one month's rent (which will be returned to you when you leave the property as long as it's not damaged) and rent in advance. If you do not have this money, there are agencies that can help you with the deposit. Speak to your Personal Adviser to find out details.
There are different types of rented accommodation available:
Shared housing where you live with other people. You'll have your own bedroom with furniture and share a kitchen and bathroom. This is often a good option if you're leaving home for the first time as it's cheaper than living on your own and there are people around if you want to talk to someone.
Lodgings where you rent a furnished room in the landlord's house and usually share their bathroom and kitchen. It can be one of the cheaper options, there are likely to be other people around if you want to talk to someone, but you'll have to fit in with the landlord's routines.
Self contained flats and houses where you live on your own. These may have furniture or might be unfurnished and are the most expensive option.
Bedsits which are usually one self-contained room with cooking facilities and a shared bathroom. They are less expensive than flats or houses.
You rent accommodation from a landlord and there are different types of landlord around:
Councils which usually offer unfurnished accommodation.
Who can apply? Anyone over 16 who lives in the UK, but councils will not always offer people a tenancy (the legal agreement you sign to rent a place) to people who are under 18. To find out the policy in your local area, contact your local housing department or speak to your Personal Adviser.
How do I apply? Contact your local housing department for a form. As there are not enough council homes for everyone, there's a waiting list for housing and a point system is used to decide who is in the greatest need of a house. It can take a long time to get allocated council accommodation.
Housing Associations and Registered Social Landlords which usually offer unfurnished accommodation. They often have housing specifically for young people with workers that offer help and support to people who have just left home. This is called supported housing. Some supported housing specialise in helping young people get qualifications and find a job – these places are called Foyers. For more information, visit their website
www.foyer.net
Who can apply? Anyone over 16 who lives in the UK but, like councils, not all housing associations always offer tenancies to people who are under 18. To find out the policy in your local area, contact your local housing department or speak to your Personal Adviser.
How do I apply? There are different ways of applying to different housing associations and social landords. Speak to your Personal Adviser who should be able to advise you which ones to contact and how.
Private rented housing is accommodation that is not rented from a council, housing association or social landlord, but is rented from an individual landlord or through a letting agent. It is often furnished. You can find out what's available to rent from looking in the paper, in newsagents' windows and from estate agents who often have lists of properties.
Who can apply? Anyone can apply for private rented housing and it's up to the landlord who they decide to house.
How do I apply? You will need to apply to each individual landlord or agent. Landlords often want a deposit equivalent to at least one month's rent (which will be returned to you when you leave the property as long as it's not damaged) and rent in advance. If you do not have this money, there are agencies that can help you with the deposit. Speak to your Personal Adviser to find out details.