DEBT HELP
Full list of rent help you can get NOW worth up to £1,000 as average costs of property hits record high
You could get free cash to help you to cover costs
RENTAL costs have hit a new record high and households - but there is help for households struggling to keep up with their spiralling bills.
The average rent being asked outside London has reached fresh highs of £1,314 per month, according to Rightmove.
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Advertised rents in London have also risen to a record of £2,661, up from £2,567 a year earlier.
Despite overall rental supply slowly improving from last year, the number of available properties is still below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, the property website said.
Its latest rental figures cover the second quarter of 2024.
Enquiries for rental properties have also shot up, with each property home receiving 17 inquiries from prospective tenants.
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Rightmove’s director of property science Tim Bannister said: “With 17 inquiries for every available rental property, the market remains out of balance and difficult for tenants.
“We need landlord investment to increase stock and help achieve a healthier supply and demand balance in the market.
“Support for both tenants and landlords will be key to achieving long-term stability in the rental market.”
With other cost of living pressures still to contend with,
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it is no wonder that people are falling into debt when trying to keep a roof over their heads.
If you are struggling with your living costs there are schemes out there that might be able to help you out.
Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence
If you are struggling with problem debt or think that it is only a matter of time before you are, here are six things that may help you.
Discretionary housing payment
Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) is a pot of money available to help low income households cover their housing costs.
This can include one-off payments to cover short term rental costs, be put towards a rent deposit on a new property or even rent in advance.
For those with disabilities, it can also be used to cover the costs of adapting your home to meet your health needs.
The payment does not cover things like bills or council tax on the home you live in.
In total last year 175,000 households in the UK received a slice of he £100million available as part of the scheme - making the national average payout £634.
The exact amount you get depends on where you live as each local authority dishes out the cash on a case-by-case basis.
Exclusive data from The Sun showed that in London, the average payout came in at £1,298 - more than twice the national average.
However in the North-East the average pay out came to £428.
Liverpool made the most awards of 7,784, averaging at £212, while the fewest were made in Rutland, typically worth £620.
But if you are on housing benefits, or receiving the housing element of universal credit, you may be eligible for the support.
Each local council decides how the application process will work, so you'll need to contact them directly to see how to apply.
Your rights if you have mould in your rented home
ALMOST half of private renters in England are living in homes that are cold, damp or mouldy, Citizens Advice (CA) warned.
A survey by CA found 45% of private renters are currently experiencing damp, mould or excessive cold in their home, and 48% of these households have been living with the disrepair for more than a year.
The charity’s data showed private renters on low incomes were expected to spend 53% of their income on energy and housing costs this year, compared with 46% for those living in social housing and 40% for those who own their homes.
A third of private renters in England – 32%, or 3.4 million – have had to borrow money to cover their rent, and 17% have gone without heating, hot water or electricity to do so, the study suggests.
Compensation
You may be able to get compensation if you have black mould in your private rented home.
It is usually calculated as a percentage of the rent you paid while living in the conditions.
A completely uninhabitable property could get 100% of rent as compensation, but this is rare.
More typically, compensation would be between 25% and 50% of your rent, according to legal experts.
Still, tenants will have to pay court fees unless they’re entitled to free legal aid, but you'll get some back if you win your case.
Last year, The Sun shared how a mum-of-three got £3,000 in compensation after her landlord failed to fix her mould-riddled home.
If you're privately renting and your landlord refuses to fix problems, you should report them to the council.
Welfare Assistance Schemes
Many local authorities have Welfare Assistance schemes in place.
Help varies from free cash and food vouchers to money towards rent and energy bills.
Some areas offer up to £1,000 whereas some councils do not have any scheme in place at all.
If you are struggling check with your local council to see what help is available for you.
If you are not sure which council you come under you can check by entering your postcode on the government website.
Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund (HSF) is another council scheme that is designed to help struggling families with rising living costs.
As with the other government schemes what you get and how much you can get varies depending on where you live.
Most local council websites have details of what is on offer and how you can apply.
For example, locals in Walsall can get up to £300 in cash paid directly to their bank accounts to help with living costs.
Check what benefits you are entitled to
You may be entitled to further cost of living payments if you claim pension credit, income support or universal credit.
A good way to check what you are entitled to is to use free online benefit calculators.
Entitledto's free calculator works out whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credits and Universal Credit.
Debt charity StepChange also has a benefits checker which is free to use and won't record your results.
Everything you need to know about Universal Credit
- What is Universal Credit? Everything you need to know including how to apply
- Universal Credit calculator: How much can I claim and how do I apply?
- Universal Credit login: How do I sign in to my online account?
- How much can I earn before Universal Credit is reduced and do I get a work allowance?
- What is a Universal Credit advance payment? How to apply and pay it back
- Are Universal Credit payments going up and how much more will I get?
- How to claim Universal Credit if you’re self-employed
- How many hours can I work on Universal Credit and will my payment be reduced?
- What is a Universal Credit budgeting advance and how much could I get?
- What is the Universal Credit housing element and how much of your rent does it pay?
Contact your provider
If you are struggling it is important not to bury your head in the sand.
It is always worth contacting your provider to see if there is anything they can do to help you.
Each company has a different policy but it is worth asking if they can help you either from a hardship fund or by giving you more time to pay.
Free confidential debt advice
There are many charities that offer free debt advice and it is completely confidential.
Citizens Advice is a free service that can help you come up with a plan to get on top of your debt.
It has a useful page with helpful advice but you can also contact them over the telephone or in person.
StepChange is another free advice service offering support and guidance online or over the phone, and it's completely confidential.
Where possible, their advisers will help you come up with a plan to repay all your debts but in a way that you can afford.
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National Debtline is a charity run offering free and confidential advice to people in England, Wales and Scotland.
You can contact them online or over the phone on 0808 808 4000, between 9am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9.30am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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