A refugee
In the UK the supply of available housing has not kept up with demand. Getting access to housing of any type is becoming increasingly difficult for low income households. There are areas in the country that have cheaper rents.
London and the south of England tend to have higher rents than other areas, depending on where you live. When considering where to live, you must look at what is realistic, affordable and most accommodating to your circumstances. You will probably need to rent privately at first.
How can the Council help you?
You can ask the Council for help as soon as you get the Home Office decision letter. This is called making a homeless application.
You do not need to wait for your residence permit, a national insurance number or an eviction notice. The Council might ask to see these things later.
The Home Office letter should be enough for the Council to start looking into your situation and how they can help. Not everyone who approaches their local council is entitled to housing. Everyone can get advice from the Council and the Council might have a duty to provide temporary accommodation and support with other longer term housing solutions.
Where a Council is satisfied that a person is eligible and homeless or threatened with homelessness, it must draw up a personalised housing plan based on its assessment of your need. The plan should contain the steps to be taken to prevent or relieve the applicant's homelessness.
Different types of housing Toggle accordion
Private rented sector: this is a property owned by a landlord and rented to a tenant.
Self-contained accommodation: this is rented accommodation where only you and your household have sole use of a kitchen, bedroom, living room and bathroom. In this type of accommodation, you are usually responsible for all bills including rent, gas, electricity and Council Tax.
Shared accommodation: this is accommodation where a tenant does not have exclusive use of more than one room in a property and shares facilities such as bathrooms and kitchen with other tenants. This type of accommodation usually includes bills such as gas, electricity and water within the monthly rent and tends to be cheaper types of accommodation.
Social housing: this is housing and flats that are owned by Local Government or Housing Associations and are rented to people with a low income or have a housing need. Not everyone is eligible for social housing.
St Albans Council has a long housing waiting list.
For advice that may apply to your circumstances Toggle accordion
Shelter England - Refugee and Migrant Charities
Or contact:
Migrant Help - 0808 8010 503
Refugee Council - 0808 196 7272
Shelter - 0300 330 1234
Help with first month's rent and deposit Toggle accordion
If you need help with the first month’s rent and deposit you can contact St Albans Community Bank, see St Albans Community Bank
If you require a guarantor, see Rent Guarantor
Local Housing Allowance Toggle accordion
If you require Universal Credit (Benefits) to help pay for your living costs towards your rent, Universal Credit will pay up to a certain amount, depending on how much you are earning, if you are working, and your financial circumstances.
Local Housing Allowance rates: St Albans District
Shared room rate - 35 years old and under: £416.49 a month
1 Bedroom Need: £800.00pcm
2 Bedroom Need: £1000.01pcm
3 Bedroom Need: £1300.01pcm
4 Bedroom Need: £1699.99pcm
(pcm means Per Calendar Month)
Average cost of a one bedroom flat in St Albans District is £900 - £1,300.
The amount that Universal Credit will pay towards rent varies from area to area in England.
To check the Local Housing Allowance Rates for other areas see the government website: Local Housing Allowance Rates
If you need to apply for Universal Credit please apply via: https://www.gov.uk/
What do I pay for in housing? Toggle accordion
The types of things you will most likely need to pay for, depending on your type of accommodation, are rent, gas and electricity, Council Tax, water charges, internet and phone costs.