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Information for Under 25's
Information for Under 25's
It can be difficult for young people to find accommodation. You may not meet the Council’s criteria for providing accommodation. You may have a low income or be dependent on benefit. The cost and availability of rented accommodation might also restrict your opportunities to secure rented accommodation.
Councils are expected to find 16 and 17 year olds and most care leavers in priority need. However, it is important to give the Council enough information about your circumstances if you are 18 years old or older where you might have a priority need if you have:
- lived in a hostel or voluntary sector housing scheme
- been in care
- been in foster care
- been housed by social services
- are leaving or have left a young offenders’ institute
- are at risk of violence or sexual abuse
- are at risk of alcohol/ drug abuse or prostitution
- have learning difficulties
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness you can contact the Council’s Homelessness Assessments Team on 020 8547 5460 to apply for accommodation and can seek advice from the Housing Advice Service by contacting them on 020 8547 5468.
If you are leaving home for the first time it is a good idea to work out in advance what’s available at what cost and what you might be able to afford on your income.
Most private landlords will want an ‘advance’. This will cover a month’s rent and a similar sum for a deposit. If you are looking for accommodation with a letting agent they will likely seek an additional sum to cover agency costs such as the provision of a tenancy agreement and the costs of credit reference checks.
In the absence of ‘advance’ rent and deposit payments you will find it difficult to secure a letting from a private landlord.
If you are not working or have concerns about your ability to afford a rent it is very important you seek advice prior to taking a tenancy on your ability to afford any accommodation.
Any household can apply to a Council for help with paying rent through Housing Benefit - go to the link below for further information. However, it is important to note that some households will not be entitled to claim housing benefit. These include most full time students and some households from abroad. If you are potentially subject to these restrictions it is important you seek advice on your eligibility for benefits prior to any claim and certainly before taking a tenancy at any rented accommodation.
Any entitlement to housing benefit is unlikely to cover the full rent you might be charged in rented accommodation. There is a rule that single people under the age of 25 are only entitled to maximum housing benefit to cover the rent for a room in a shared house. If your accommodation is considered larger than your needs or too expensive you will find any claim for housing benefit will be restricted under this single room determination. This figure is presently around £60.00 per week in Kingston Borough and sometime is lower. This is not a guaranteed figure of benefit entitlement.
Any entitlement you might receive will be dependent on your making a claim, providing that information required by the Housing Benefit Office and the determination of that figure of rent charged ‘eligible’ for benefit.
Where you are concerned at your ability to pay a rent, prior to accepting a tenancy with a private landlord it is advisable to seek advice on your potential entitlement to housing benefit. You can seek advice from the Housing Advice Service or those agencies detailed on the Directory for private sector tenants and landlords page.