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Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Advice on renting in the private sector

It can be difficult for households on lower incomes to access the private rented sector. The Vale of White Horse is working hard to make it easier for households to access affordable accommodation in the private rented sector.

The Housing Advice Team produces a weekly accommodation list, giving details of properties available to rent. To view the latest list please see Private rented accommodation list. Newsagents and local newspapers also provide other good sources of privately advertised rented accommodation. For more information see our page How to find private rented accommodation.

If you are on a low income, even if you are working, you may be entitled to housing benefit to help with the cost of the rent. Housing benefit can be complicated to calculate and the amount of benefit you receive varies depending on your income, household make-up and the rent charged for the property. We advise that if you are considering renting a property to contact the Benefits Team on 01235 540326. They can estimate your entitlement based on your income and also issue you with a pre-tenancy determination form which, will confirm the maximum housing benefit payable on a particular property. For more information see our Housing benefit pages.

The Housing Advice Team also runs a Deposit guarantee scheme which enables tenants who cannot afford a cash deposit to offer landlords a Bond instead. The bond is issued by the Council and acts as a deposit guarantee for the landlord. If you would like to register for the scheme, or require further information, please contact the Housing Advice Team. 

Please also see the following pages for more advice on renting in the private sector:

Talk to us
  • 0808 1001617
  • Vale of White Horse District Council, Abbey House, Abingdon, OX14 3JE