Benefits

Remember no one is perfect and everyone can and usually do make mistakes. It is how you rectify them that counts. 

We do take DWP or other housing benefit payments in part or full for rental subject to status. Sadly you could end up in a situation where you need extra help from the benefit system. However if you are not working and have no means of support then lots of landlords are not interested, they want hard working people with money coming in each month to pay the bills, not all but a lot of people on benefits over the years have got a bad name for themselves, drinking, drugs, fights, drug dealing and other related criminal activities. What you need to do is arrive to a viewing at the time given, with a clear and positive outlook, as not all people on benefits are bad, some are circumstantial and once the situation changes they will be back into fulltime paid employment. At Fennic we are very happy to arrange viewings for anyone, we won't discriminate against people, but we are always upfront about the facts and situation - we do not want to waste your time or money viewing a property we know the landlord will reject anyone we submit on benefits. However a landlord is not legally allowed now to just refuse people on benefits, but in the past they just withdraw the property listing with us and the proposed tenant has wasted valuable time and effort on something that just will not happen.

Bad credit is another factor, we understand that people on benefits can struggle to pay bills and plus other financial commitments, which may then result in bad credit score, CCJ's or missed payments showing on your credit file. If you have bad credit score you will not pass the credit check or references could be rejected. You may need a guarantor who is a homeowner, which means if you do not pay the rent then the guarantor will be contacted and the bill sent to them, if they do not pay then court action may start and they could even lose the house they own too.

We fully understand it will cause a problem, so we do have a list of contacts to call, used at your own risk, but let's first of all see what is possible, at the end of the day unless you rent a property we do not get paid!


Let's put a property search plan together

StepChange - Debt advice and fee-free debt management
Call 0800 138 1111 or visit stepchange.org
Money Helper - Information and tools to help manage your money
Call 0800 011 3797 or visit moneyhelper.org.uk
National Debt Line - Debt advice, including specialist advice for self employed Call 0808 808 4000 or visit nationaldebtline.org
Citizens Advice - Advice on finances, consumer rights, benefits and more Call 0808 223 1133 or visit citizensadvice.org.uk 

Here  is some useful information if you are homeless or know someone who is experiencing homelessness.

If you or someone you know is sleeping rough you can use the alert Streelink service to help connect them with outreach services: www.thestreetlink.org.uk/start Food, You can find free food stations via:The Pavement - for food and soup runs: www.thepavement.org.uk/services Homeless Link - for day centres: www.homeless.org.uk The Trussell Trust - for food banks: www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/ Food Cycle - for food services - www.foodcycle.org.uk/free-food-locations/ HOUSING Councils have a duty to help people who are homeless or facing homelessness. Contact the Housing Options team from the council you have a local connection to and see if they can offer:
Emergency accommodation - a place in a shelter or a hostel
Longer-term accommodation including independent or social housing
Visit: www.gov.uk/find-local-council During times of severe cold or heat, local councils have special accommodation known as Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). Find out more here: www.gov.uk/find-local-council. For advice, support or legal services related to housing visit www.shelter.co.uk or call 0808 800 4444.You can also contact Crisis: www.crisis.org.uk/get-help/ For housing advice, call Shelter on 0808 800 4444 or visit: www.shelter.org.uk.DAY CENTRES Day centres can help by providing internet access, free or cheap food, shower and laundry facilities, safe storage for belongings, phone charging and clothes, toiletries or sleeping bags.They can also help with services for benefits or immigration advice; health support; finding work; educational or social activities; hostel, night shelter or outreach referrals. centres can be found through Homeless Link: www.homeless.org.uk/BENEFITSNormally you can claim Universal Credit if you are sleeping on the streets or staying in a hostel. If you are in a hostel, you can claim Housing Benefit to help with rent. You do not need a fixed address or a bank account. USEFUL CONTACTS Crisis - visit: www.crisis.org.uk or call 0300 636 1967.Shelter - visit: www.shelter.org.uk or call 0808 800 4444. Centrepoint (for people aged 16-25) - visit: www.centrepoint.org.uk or call 0808 800 0661.St Mungo’s (Bath, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Christchurch, Leicester, Oxford, Poole and Reading) - visit: www.mungos.org or call 020 3856 6000.Depaul UK (for young people) - visit: https://www.depaul.org.uk/ or call 0207 939 1220.Citizen's Advice (legal advice) - visit: www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call 0345 404 0506.The Samaritans (health and wellbeing) - www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan or call 116 123.