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Finding a Place to Live
This page gives you information about finding a place to live. It gives details of temporary accommodation and also longer term housing solutions. If you wish to discuss the range of accommodation available, please contact your local authority.
If you need accommodation for tonight
If you need accommodation for tonight, please contact the Housing Needs & Advice Team on the above number. If they are unable to help, you may be able to get emergency accommodation from one of the options listed below.
A) HOSTELS & NIGHT SHELTERS
There are a variety of different types of hostels and night shelters in and surrounding Aylesbury Vale. A number are "direct access" which means that you may contact the hostels directly regarding accommodation, whilst others only accept a referral from the Housing Advisor in the Housing Needs & Advice Team, who may be contacted on telephone (01296) 585167.
A leaflet is available from our offices detailing hostel accommodation in Aylesbury and surrounding areas. If you wish to be referred to a hostel, please contact the Housing Advisor on the above number.
B) WOMEN'S REFUGES
Women's refuges offer accommodation for women and their children who have suffered emotional, or physical abuse from a partner or member of their family. They are ordinary houses, shared by other women and their children. Women do not have to go to a refuge in their own area, and the address is kept secret to protect women from those they have fled. The Aylesbury Women's Aid Centre may be contacted on (01296) 436827 and for a 24 hour emergency service contact the Samaritans on (01494) 432000 and ask for Aylesbury Women's Aid Centre.
C) STAYING WITH FRIENDS
This may be a good emergency option but if you are looking for more permanent accommodation, please refer to the next section.
LOOKING FOR MORE PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION
A) PRIVATE RENTED ACCOMMODATION
If you are looking for private rented accommodation you will probably need a deposit, usually equivalent to a months rent and also a months rent in advance.
Landlords may also ask for references from your previous Landlord, employer or bank.
Some Landlords may not let properties to people who need to claim Housing Benefit because they are concerned that Housing Benefit will not cover the whole rent.
You are entitled to advance information on how much of the rent will be used as the basis for any assessment of your entitlement to Housing Benefit. This is known as a pre-tenancy determination and is used as the basis for any assessment of your entitlement to Housing Benefit. For further information on this, please contact the Housing Advisor on (01296) 585167 or the Housing Benefit section on (01296) 585858.
Please note that, subject to the above paragraph under the Housing Benefit Regulations for most under 25 year olds your assessment for Housing Benefit will be based on the cost of shared accommodation. Within Aylesbury Vale, the housing benefit levels for the under 25's is currently restricted to approximately £43.00 per week.
B) HOW TO FIND PRIVATE RENTED ACCOMMODATION
ask friends, family, work colleagues etc.....
Local newspapers include :-
The Bucks Herald - available on Wednesdays
The Bucks Advertiser - available on Fridays
The Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser - available on Fridays
The Bucks Free Press - available on Thursdays The Citizen - available on Fridays
All of the above are available in your local library
check shop windows, notice boards in newsagents etc.....
advertise yourself by putting an advert in a local newspaper or shop, saying what type of rented accommodation you are looking for and how much rent you could afford to pay
Look through local newspapers as they have a section on rented accommodation and flat shares
C) COUNCIL HOUSING
The law requires Aylesbury Vale District Council to maintain a Housing Register (waiting list) of all housing applicants. You may be admitted to the Housing Register either because you are a qualifying person under the law, or if you are defined as a qualifying person by the Council. The applicant at the top of the Housing Register is offered the next appropriate Council home that becomes vacant or is nominated to a Registered Social Landlord (or housing association).
To qualify for a Council home, you need to apply to join the Housing Register by completing a Housing Register application form, which is available from the Housing Department.
The register is not kept in date order but in order of housing need, so that the most needy applicants are at the top of the list. This is why we need you to answer a lot of questions on the application form, to see how much you need a Council home.
Further information on how the housing register works is available in a leaflet from the Housing Department.
D) SHARED OWNERSHIP SCHEMES
Most shared ownership schemes are run by Registered Social Landlords or Housing Associations although in certain cases, nominations may be via the Housing Register.
Shared ownership schemes enable you to buy a share of the property. You then pay rent on the other part. You may be able to buy more shares until you own the property outright. For more information on shared ownership schemes, please contact the Housing Enabling Officer on (01296) 585123
E) REGISTERED SOCIAL LANDLORDS OR (HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS)
Most Registered Social Landlords (RSL's) are non profit making organizations and are members of the National Housing Federation.
A list is available from our offices detailing Registered Social Landlords in the Aylesbury Vale and surrounding areas. You may personally approach any RSL in which you are interested to enquire whether you can be accepted onto its waiting list. Some Registered Social landlords are pleased to accept direct applications from enquirors without the support of the Council.
F) CAN I GET HELP TO PAY MY RENT ?
Housing Benefit is a means tested form of financial assistance which enables people on low incomes to pay towards their rent. You will need to complete a Housing Benefit application form which is available from the Council Offices at 84 Walton Street and the Friars Square Offices, 4 Great Western Street, Aylesbury.
Housing Benefit only covers that part of your rent which relates to pure "housing" costs, and will not cover charges for water rates, heating, lighting or hot water.
The Housing Benefit section of Aylesbury Vale District Council can advise you on the maximum rent they will cover for a property, before you decide to rent it. This is known as a pre-tenancy determination. It is important to note however, that for eligible applicants, maximum housing benefit in the private rented sector will be restricted under the Housing Benefit Regulations to the cost of a shared house in a property for most people under 25 years old. Within Aylesbury Vale this is currently approximately £43.00 per week (for an applicant in receipt of Income Support).
You should also note that any assessment completed by a Rent Officer is not a commitment to pay the full amount of housing benefit referred to in the pre-tenancy determination. This will depend upon what your own income is at the time of completing your housing benefit application.
Housing Benefit may be paid directly to you or your landlord. Many landlords do not know that housing benefit can go directly to them, so remember to discuss this with a prospective Landlord/Landlady. It may help you in securing accommodation.
If you wish to discuss the range of options detailed above, please contact the Housing Advisor at 84 Walton street, Aylesbury on (01296) 585167.
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