Deposit guarantee scheme

The council's deposit guarantee Scheme is intended to help people who are homeless or in housing need, by offering landlords or ladies a guarantee to cover loss or damage to the property (beyond fair wear and tear). The deposit guarantee is not a solution to an emergency situation as the application may take five to ten working days.

Who can the scheme help?

Applicants need to be:

• Aged 16 or over
• In housing need: for example living in poor or unreasonable conditions or about to lose their home
• Unable to raise the deposit themselves, because they are on low income, or unemployed, or receiving benefit
• From the Vale of White Horse District or have a local connection by virtue of family or employment.

How does the scheme work?

Most landlords or landladies ask for a deposit to be paid when a tenant moves in. This scheme will ensure that if tenants are eligible, a deposit bond will be issued in place of deposit. The bond will be up to a maximum of six week's rent, and can last for any period up to 12 months. Landlords/ladies can be secure in the knowledge that the Council is guaranteeing the bond.

What type of accommodation is included?

All kinds - the scheme will cover self-contained accommodation bedsits, flats, houses and lettings of spare rooms.

How much can the rent be?

We have guidelines for the maximum rent that is acceptable based upon the market rents charged within the area. We cannot guarantee deposits greater than these amounts.

Tenants who cannot afford to pay their rent should claim housing benefit from us. Benefits will only be paid for reasonable rents so tenants should have the rent checked before they move in. If the rent is too expensive the tenant may not get help with all of it. There are time limits for claiming housing benefits so it is important that tenants contact us at once for advice and a claim form. For more information see our pages on Housing benefit.

How to apply for a deposit bond

We realise that tenants may be in a desperate situation so we will act as quickly as possible. We must visit the property and speak to the landlord/lady before the tenant moves in. This means it is important to contact us as soon as a tenant has found somewhere to live.

For advice and an application form contact the Housing Team.

What happens next?

We will visit the property to take an inventory. We can also give advice about claiming housing benefit.

What happens when the tenant leaves ?

We need to know as soon as the tenant is due to leave. If there is any loss or damage a claim must be made within seven days of the tenant leaving. We will then investigate the loss or damage.

For more information

More information for both tenants and landlords is available in the leaflets "Deposit Guarantee Scheme - advice for tenants" and "Deposit Guarantee Scheme - advice for landlords" which can be downloaded from the right of the page.