About this scheme
Our Find Your Own Home scheme is for people we accept are ‘homeless or at risk of homelessness’. It is one of the ways they could rent a suitable and affordable home.
What is included
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
Why join this scheme
If you are allowed to take part in this scheme, you could get:
- 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 could move to longer-term housing sooner instead of waiting for us to find you a suitable home
- expert support throughout – we will help you to make informed decisions and rent a home you can afford
Who can use this scheme
You can only join our Find Your Own Home scheme if we have accepted a housing duty towards you.
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 of the home you have found (but you need help with upfront costs such as the deposit or rent in advance)
Your chosen home must pass our safety and affordability checks.
How to take part
You do not need to register to join our Find Your Own Home scheme.
- Check you are allowed to use this scheme
- Find a private-rented home you can afford
- View the home
- Tell the landlord/managing agent that Enfield Council is giving you housing support
- Tell your caseworker the home’s full address, rent amount, and landlord/managing agent’s contact details
You must also be ready to review or complete your income and expenditure form. This will help us confirm if you can afford to rent the home you have found.
Do not sign an agreement or pay money in advance
Before we confirm you and the home meet the scheme’s criteria, please do not pay any money or sign any agreements to rent the home.
Our team can:
- advise you about your tenancy agreement
- help with payments (for example, your deposit and rent in advance)
Also, before you rent a home, you should understand your rights as a tenant.
What the landlord or agent must do
Finding a private home you can afford to rent is only one part of this scheme.
There are things you must do, things we will do, and things the landlord or agent must do.
The landlord or agent must:
- respond to our requests for information and evidence
- send us proof their property is safe – including a valid gas safety report, an electrical installation condition report, and an energy performance certificate (EPC)
- send evidence of a selective licence (application) if required
- be ready to sign our ‘Find your own home’ agreement
What our team will do
Before we can help, you must tell us about the home. We also need information from the landlord or agent.
We will then check the home is affordable, suitable and meets our compliance requirements.
If it does, we can:
- check your tenancy agreement before you sign it
- help you learn how to manage your money
- advise you on how to keep your tenancy
What to do next
Your caseworker should tell you if you are allowed to join our Find Your Own Home scheme.
If you meet the criteria – and you have found a private home you can afford to rent – you can take part in this scheme.
For more information about this scheme, please ask your caseworker.
Residents in temporary or emergency accommodation
Have we accepted a housing duty towards you? If you are also in temporary or emergency accommodation, there are several ways you could move to a longer-term home.
For example, you can register with our housing partners. You can also ask us about available homes for rent nationwide.