Find Your Own Home scheme

Our Find Your Own Home scheme is one of the ways you could rent a suitable, affordable home.

Why join this scheme

A fresh start
Freedom to directly choose a private-rented home that fits your needs
More control over your housing – your new home could be anywhere in the UK, and in the place or community you prefer
Stability and speed – you can move to stable and longer-term housing faster than waiting for us to find you a suitable home
Expert support throughout – we will guide and support you to make informed decisions and rent a home you can afford

We offer:

one month’s rent paid in advance and one month’s deposit (or an incentive paid directly to the landlord or agent)
practical support – such as rent negotiation and document checking
training on how to manage your money and get a job
aftercare service to help you keep your tenancy

Have we accepted a housing duty towards you? You can join our Find Your Own Home scheme.

To take part, you must also:

get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit
have found a private home to rent
be able to afford to pay the rent (but need help with upfront costs such as the deposit or rent in advance)

Your chosen home must pass our safety and affordability checks.

You do not need to register for this scheme. If you are eligible, you can:

You should understand your tenant rights before you rent a home.

There are several ways to find a home to rent. For example, you could search property listings online. You could also register with an estate agent.

Do not pay any money or sign any agreements.

We can sort out your tenancy agreement and payments (for example, deposit and rent in advance).

For more information about this scheme, please contact your caseworker.

There are other ways you could find your own home.