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General information

Information Leaflets

Important Changes

Universal credit full service was introduced in the Bassetlaw area in December 2017. This will replace income support, income-based jobseekers' allowance, income-based employment support allowance, child tax credit, working tax credit and housing benefit for some tenants. If your tenant or any member of the family has a change in circumstances and is not exempt from the current roll-out of universal credit, the gateway to a new housing benefit claim will be closed, and your tenant will need to claim the housing element of universal credit instead.

There are some exceptions currently, but the Government plans to fully roll-out universal credit between 2020 and 2024 to all working-age claimants.

Visit Universal Credit Information and enter your postcode to see whether you can claim universal credit.

External Website Information

More information is available on the link below regarding preparing your tenants for the full roll-out of universal credit and how you can help.

Data Protection Authorisation form

Without the tenant’s authorisation we are limited in what information we are able to give to landlords. As agreed, a template is available for landlords and tenants to print off, sign and send to the Benefits Unit. 

Please note that authorisation may be withdrawn by the tenant at any time.

Further information for landlords

Local Housing Allowance

Please see the Housing Benefit page for information about the rent levels and room numbers allowed for private tenants.

Help with Council Tax for tenants who are liable to pay this themselves

Council Tax Benefit was abolished from April 2013 and replaced with a local Council Tax Reduction scheme. 

Please see the Council Tax Reduction page for more information and a full copy of the Council's approved scheme. There are no changes to the scheme for 2015/16.

More information for Landlords

The Council’s Housing Needs Team can provide advice and guidance regarding tenancies and will also be holding landlord events throughout the year, in conjunction with the Benefits team. The next event details will be posted on here shortly.

Government Tenancy Deposit Schemes

Tenancy deposit law was introduced on 6th April 2007 to give more protection to tenants by preventing landlords and letting agents from unfairly with holding a tenant's deposit.

From 6 April 2007, all deposits (up to the level of £25,000) taken by landlords and letting agents for Assured Shorthold Tenancies in England and Wales, must be protected by a tenancy deposit protection scheme.

What are Tenancy Deposit Schemes?

There are two types of protection scheme available,

  • Insurance-based schemes
  • Custodial schemes

Both schemes provide a free dispute resolution service. More details on Tenancy Deposit Protection can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Bond Guarantee Scheme

The Bond Guarantee Scheme has been developed by Bassetlaw District Council’s Housing Needs Team and is used as a homeless prevention tool to help those in housing need access private rented accommodation.

As local authority housing stock diminishes and demand continues to rise, the Council recognises that people are relying on private rented accommodation to resolve their housing problems but are not able to afford the large sums of money required for bond and rent in advance payments to secure a tenancy.

Therefore providing a Bond Guarantee Scheme allows easier access to the private rented sector and offers more people more options and choices, creates settled communities and reduces the risk of homelessness.

Who is Eligible?

Anyone assessed to be statutorily homeless or threatened with homelessness by the Council will be eligible and automatically receive consideration.

How does the Scheme work?

All applicants accepted onto the Bond Guarantee Scheme will be assisted to identify any potentially suitable properties taking into account the needs of the household and affordability.

When a property has been identified and approved by the Housing Needs Team, they will:

  • Inspect the property to ensure it is in a good state of repair, cleanliness and decoration and meets all health and safety standards.
  • Complete inventory and obtain photographs.
  • Negotiate and agree the terms of the tenancy with landlord.
  • Explain what the bond guarantee covers.
  • Outline Claims procedure.
  • Issue a Bond Certificate to the Landlord guaranteeing that they will be reimbursed for the cost of any willful neglect or damage to the property during the first 12 months of the tenancy to an amount not exceeding one month's gross rent for the property.

How long does the process take?

The length of time required to set up a tenancy will vary however all property inspections will be undertaken and negotiations completed as quickly as possible.

Factors which may delay the application could include Landlord having to carry out minor remedial works to bring the property up to standard or delays in the availability of all parties concerned.

If a Landlord allows an applicant to move into a property or issues a Tenancy Agreement before the Council has approved the tenancy in writing, the Council reserves the right to withdraw from the process.

Private sector landlords

Help and Information for Private Sector Landlords 

The Council is focused on and committed to preventing people from becoming homeless, however to do this more effectively with tenants in the private rented sector, we need to work more closely and in partnership with landlords to remove any barriers that exist.

Problems with your tenants?

Do you have tenants who are:

  • Behaving in an anti-social manner
  • Not paying their rent
  • Not keeping their property or garden in good order
  • Experiencing family or relationship problems
  • AND Are you thinking of taking action to gain repossession of their property? 

Before you do - contact the Housing Needs Team

The Council has a legal duty to provide advice, assistance and support to individuals and families who are experiencing problems relating to their housing situation, however we would like to offer the same service to Landlords.

The Council is focussed on and committed to preventing people from becoming homeless, however to do this more effectively with tenants in the private rented sector, we need to work more closely and in partnership with landlords to remove any barriers that exist.

The earlier the Council can intervene in situations where people are likely to lose their home, the better chance there is of preventing this from happening.

The Housing Needs Team has a Landlord Liaison Scheme in place and will work closely with yourself and your tenant(s) to identify what problems there are. We can then use the homeless prevention measures available to take quick, effective action to address these and work with you to keep the tenant(s) in their home.

The Landlord Liaison Scheme

The Scheme offers a wide range of options including: 

  • Referrals to the Support  Providers for Tenancy Support packages
  • Provision of general housing, tenancy and legal advice
  • Homeless Prevention Fund
  • Arranging for local housing allowance applications to be fast tracked where appropriate
  • Arranging for local housing allowance payments to be paid direct to landlord in exceptional circumstances
  • Providing mediation
  • Signposting to other key agencies who offer professional services such as Women’s Aid, CAB or Social Care
  • Regular tenancy visits
  • Assisting tenants to make applications for payments from the Discretionary Housing Fund

If you do have a tenant who is struggling to maintain their tenancy, and would like to work in partnership with the Council to prevent and reduce homelessness and create settled safe communities for people to live in, please contact the Council’s Housing Needs Team without delay.

Contact

Bassetlaw District Council's Housing Team

  • Telephone: 01909 533 455 / 533 401 / 533 402 / 533 712 (Monday-Friday, 8:40am - 5:00pm)
  • Fax: 01909 535 122
  • Website: www.bassetlaw.gov.uk
  • Email: housing.needs@bassetlaw.gov.uk 

Last Updated on Thursday, January 9, 2025