Your step-by-step guide

If it is impossible to stay at home or in care you might be able to rent from a private landlord. Most 16 and 17 year olds that do this either share a house or flat, or rent a room in someone’s house.

You can fidn some hints on how to

Step 1 : Get Advice

Talk to your parents or another adult you trust. Get advice from people close to your age that have a place of their own. Visit the experts at a housing advice centre.

If you are leaving care, social and health care must give you advice about finding a place to live.

They can also provide information and support if you are disabled and want to live independently.

Step 2 : Do your sums

Make two lists: one for all your income and one for all your costs.

Example: Ozzie is 17 years old and single. She works part-time at the local newsagents earning £96.00 per week. She is looking to get a furnished single room in a shared house in Headington. To move in she’ll need £252 for a month’s deposit and two weeks’ rent in advance. Will she have enough to make it?

	COSTS PER WEEK
	Rent Food Utilities/water Bus pass Clothes Toiletries Cleaning materials Laundrette Entertainment	£63.00 £30.00 £10.00 £8.50 £12.50 £2.50 £1.00 £2.50 £20.00
	TOTAL	£150.00
	INCOME PER WEEK
	Wages Housing benefit	£96.00 £57.50
	TOTAL	£153.50
	Only £3.50 left?!?

The list will help you determine how much rent you can afford to pay or what you’ll need to do without. Ozzie decided to wait until she could increase her wages.

Help with the Rent

Based on listings in Daily Information, the average cost of a single room in Oxford is £280 per month. In some cases this includes utilities. You usually need enough money to pay some rent in advance and a deposit.

If you are 16 or 17 you may be entitled to Housing Benefit (HB) if you are estranged from your parents. This is most likely if you are on a further education course or a part-time student. You may also qualify if you have dependent children or you are disabled. Get advice from Connexions or a housing advice centre.

If you are 16 or 17 and have been in care, social and health care has to support you financially until you are 18. This includes paying for your accommodation.

HB normally pays the single room rent, which is £57.50 per week in Oxford. You will have to make up the difference from your own money. However, if any of these exceptions apply you may qualify for Discretionary Housing
Payments:

• If making up the difference from your own money would cause exceptional hardship
• You are a single parent
• You are living with a heterosexual partner or spouse
• You are severely disabled
• You share with other people who could be expected to pay part of the rent
• hen rent includes items such as gas and electricity, HB normally covers only the rent element of the charge.

You can apply for HB at your local Benefits Service.

You can find out the maximum amount HB will pay before committing to take a place by requesting a pre-tenancy determination. Forms are available from the local council Benefits service.

For help with the deposit contact a Rent Deposit scheme.

People under 18 are exempt from paying Council Tax.

Step 3: Check out your Options

 

	Bed & Breakfast	£30 a night on average
	Bedsits	Can be self-contained with mini-kitchens and bathrooms off one or two rooms
	Flat/House shares	Usually a single bedroom with a shared kitchen and bathroom, maybe lounge
	Lodgings	Room in a family home, sometimes with meals
	Flat	HB will not usually pay all of the rent if you are under 25 and living on your own. Many landlords won’t accept HB

Step 4: Finding a place

You can find listings of available accommodation in:

• Housing advice agencies
• www.dailyinfo.co.uk
• Citizens Advice Bureaus
• Local and free newspapers
• Shop windows
• Letting agents

Accommodation usually goes fast so act quickly. Call first to determine:

• When room will be available
• If Housing Benefit is accepted
• What you must pay upfront
• Furnished or unfurnished
• If rent includes bills, food, other charges
• If your pet is allowed

If you like what you hear, make an appointment to view the place. Take:

• Your references
• A friend (for safety and a second opinion)
• A Pre-tenancy Determination form if you are claiming HB
• Money for the deposit or a Deposit Guarantee Bond

Step 5 : Sealing the Deal

If you like the place and can afford it, don't dither, go for it. Accomodation goes very quickly.

People under 18 can rent a flat and sign a lease. Often landlords will want someone over 18 such as a relative or social worker to guarantee that rent is paid. If damage is caused or rent is not paid the landlord can sue or evict you even if you are under 18.

If there is no written tenancy agreement you may be able to request a 'statement of terms' which the landlord must provide if you request it in writing. This should include basic information such as the length of contract, amount of rent and so on.

A verbal agreement is legally binding but difficult to prove unless there are witnesses.