Finding a good quality, affordable house to rent can be difficult particularly if you are looking in a time of crisis. This section will help you to consider your options.
Types of privately rented accommodation
Private rented accommodation comes in a variety of types:
Living with family
The family home is often not just a home in childhood. Many young people continue to live in the family home for many years after leaving education. Sometimes this can be a stop-gap between jobs or perhaps after a relationship has failed. There is no security of tenure in such arrangements and it is more properly seen as a goodwill gesture rather than a formal tenancy arrangement. Even where the arrangement is only “temporary” it can complicate the parents’ own financial situation if they are claiming state benefits. Although most arrangements are likely to fall within the tax-exempt rent-a-room scheme, the current limits should be checked with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to ensure that the arrangement will not cause later difficulties with tax liability.
Lodgings
This usually refers to an arrangement where you live with a resident landlord and there is a sharing of communal facilities such as kitchen or bathroom. Meals may be included or not. Security of tenure is limited in this type of arrangement although any written agreement will guide the terms of the contract.
House share
Most house share arrangements will be some form of agreement where the property is either sublet (with the agreement of the main landlord/owner) by one tenant to others or where a group of occupants are joint tenants. Joining a shared arrangement can help to lower the cost of renting. However, it is important to clearly understand the commitment you are making if you join an existing house share arrangement. If in doubt seek independent advice.
Mobile homes
Mobile home occupants are tenants but with limited security of tenure. A mobile home tenancy can be terminated by just four weeks’ notice unless the agreement specifies a longer period.
Bed and Breakfast
Usually a short-term option but can be useful for emergencies; there is no security of tenure whatsoever.
Houseboats
Houseboats on rivers or canals will usually confer tenancy status on the occupant but this can be complicated by rights to moorings and services along the waterway.
Social housing and homelessness
Social housing is provided for rent from a local authority or council or other registered social landlord, such as housing association, local housing company, almshouse trust, sheltered housing, hostels, etc.
Social housing providers are expected to make public their allocation policies. This should show the extent of choice, the decision-making process for allocation of a property, how priorities are determined and how to apply. In most cases there will be an official application form to complete.
In addition to local policy, local authorities have statutory obligations to fulfil in respect of housing provision for priority groups. These obligations mean that it is often difficult for single working people to obtain housing without a lengthy wait even when faced with homelessness, unless there is an adequate supply of social housing in the area. Homelessness will need to be supported by evidence in the form of a written possession notice by a landlord, parents, etc. specifying the date required to leave. Social services support can help to secure social housing where children, people with disabilities are involved or there are other issues of safety.
Even if you do not wish to become a council tenant, it can be worthwhile registering on the waiting list so that you can be referred for consideration by a registered social housing landlord like a housing association as councils have the right to allocate 50% of the new applicants to Registered Social Landlords (RSL).
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