Homeless and looking for accommodation
Finding private rented accommodation
Finding private rented accommodation in Kensington & Chelsea
can be very difficult.
Accommodation is very expensive and many Accommodation Agencies do
not take people on benefits.
The following are some suggestions of where to look:
1. Accommodation Agencies
Accommodation Agencies will normally require a deposit, rent in
advance and references. It is usually one month rent for the
deposit and one months rent in advance. What the deposit covers
will be specified in the agreement but usually it is for any unpaid
rent or damage to the property [above and beyond fair wear and
tear].
They may charge a fee on securing you accommodation. However, it
is illegal under the Accommodation Agencies Act
1953 for an Accommodation Agency to charge a fee simply
for registering with them; providing a list of properties; or
charging a fee, which is "refundable" when the accommodation is
found.
Many Accommodation Agencies do not deal with people who are
unemployed or in receipt of housing benefit.
2. Newsagents
The more affordable accommodation is often advertised in
newsagents' windows, or in the free advertisement newspapers.
For example, there is a kiosk in Earls Court Road, SW5 [just to
the left of Earls Court Tube Station], which has a large selection
of rooms and flats to let.
3. Newspapers
Accommodation for let is often advertised in national, local and
special interest papers. A wide selection is available free at your
local library.
Loot the free advertisement newspaper carries
hundreds of rooms and flats to let across London. It is published
five times a week.
You can also access it on the web at: www.loot.com
There are other trade papers such as Daltons
Weekly, published on Wednesdays, and the London
Weekly Advertiser, published on Thursdays.
TNT is a free magazine published every Monday
and usually available outside Tube stations. It is predominantly
aimed at young Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans but
it does advertise accommodation to let, predominantly
flatshares.
TNT also has a larger selection of advertisements for accommodation
to let on its website at:
http://www.tnt-live.com/uk/
The site is regularly updated and it is definitely worth
responding by email.
Another similar free publication is SX Magazine, which again is
usually available outside Tube stations. Again it has a larger
selection of advertisements for accommodation to let on its website
at:
www.sxmagazine.com
One final antipodean website with perhaps the most adverts is:
www.thegumtree.com
The Evening Standard also advertises accommodation
to let on a Thursday.
It also has a website www.thisislondon.com
The Guardian publishes the Capital Flatshare
list very Saturday.
The Pink Paper aimed at the gay and lesbian
community is published every Thursday also advertises accommodation
for let.
The local newspapers
4. Capital Flatshare
Capital Radio publishes a list of rooms available in flatshares
every week. It is available from the reception at Capital Radio on
Friday between 5.30 and 7pm. The list is also published in The
Guardian on Saturday, in the guide section.
Capital Radio
30 Leicester Square
London WC2H 7LA
Flatshare Tel: 020 7484 8000
5. NHS Accommodation
If you work in the NHS, then the NHS Accommodation Bureau can
give you information on subsided schemes for renting and buying
open to health employees. It is open Monday to Friday 9am to
5pm.
NHS Accommodation Bureau
The Old Fire Station
20 Purcroft Road
Chertesy
Surrey KT16 9HL
Tel: 01932 571999
If you work in the NHS and would like to buy a property then the
government's Starter Homes Initiative may be able to provide some
financial assistance by way of a loan. One of the local schemes is
run by Bush, which is the home ownership arm of Shepherds Bush
Housing Association. Further information can be obtained from Bush
on:
Tel: 020 8996 4251/4245
6. Student Accommodation
Students can contact the National Union of Students [NUS] or
information on finding accommodation and other advice.
NUS Welfare Unit
461 Holloway Road
London N7
Tel: 020 7272 8900
Website: www.nusonline.co.uk
Accommodation for students is also advertised on the website:
www.homesforstudents.co.uk
Key workers and students
There are a number of schemes aimed at providing affordable
accommodation for key workers and one or two for
students.
One scheme for key workers and
students is run by Peabody Unite. It
provides affordable rented accommodation for teachers, health
service workers, emergency service workers and students. Most of
the property is in East London and rent inclusive of council tax
and water rates start at about £80 pw.
Peabody Unite Customer Service Centre Tel: 0845 111 00
21
Another key worker scheme for teachers or people who
work in the NHS who would like to buy a property is the
government's Starter Homes Initiative. The scheme
works by providing top-up loans to enable to purchase their own
home.
One of the local schemes is run by Bush, which is the home
ownership arm of the Shepherds Bush Housing Association. Further
information can be obtained from Bush on:
Tel: 020 8996 4251 / 4245