Private rented housing if you're homeless
Private rented sector accommodation is property that is owned by a landlord and rented to a tenant. It's known as private housing because it is non-social housing.
How it works
When you move into private rented accommodation, you'll receive a tenancy agreement.
The tenancy will continue until you or your landlord ends it. Your landlord cannot ask you to leave quickly.
Benefits of private rented housing
There are several benefits to private rented housing:
- more housing choice and variety, such as gardens and outdoor space
- furnished homes, helping you to move in straight away
- you do not need to join a waiting list
- often you can move into a private rented property immediately
- the landlord is usually responsible for most repairs and maintenance of the property
- we may support you with the initial costs of the first month’s rent and security deposit if we're helping you because you're homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- we'll support you to find landlords and agents that specialise in setting up tenancies if you're receiving Universal Credit
- we'll support you to resettle into your new area
If you choose to move to a private rented sector home instead of moving to or staying in temporary accommodation, you may qualify for 200 choosing PRS points on our Housing Register instead of 100 main homeless duty points.
Find out more about help with homelessness.
Contact us
If you're interested in private renting, or want to learn more, contact our team.