Private rented accommodation

Renting privately can be the most realistic housing option given the extremely limited supply of social housing in this area.

Help to find a property and help with associated financial issues

If we accept that we owe you a Prevention or Relief duty, we will help you find private rented accommodation. We will assist you via Spelthorne Rent Assure or if suitable, via the homelessness prevention fund.

The amount of help you can get depends on your age, the size and location of the property and your family circumstances.

For guidance on Local Housing Allowance rates if you are renting in Spelthorne please visit our Housing Benefit pages.

Please be aware that in most cases you will need to pay a deposit either to the landlord or the letting agent.  The landlord may also request the first months rent in advance. For more information on what fees can be incurred, please read the guidance detailed on the Governments Tenant Fees Act Website

Before you pay out any money at all please make sure you can afford it. Private sector rents are often more expensive than social housing rents.  If you are on a low income you can usually get some help, see above. Please contact the Housing Options team if you are unsure if you can afford the rent on a property which you are about to accept.

If it is your first time renting, or you are unsure of your rights and responsibilities when renting a property in the private rented sector, please refer to the Government's 'How to Rent' guide which provides detailed information on each stage of the process and a useful checklist. It covers what you should look out for before renting, what you can expect when living in a rented home and what happens at the end of a tenancy.

Help for single and childless couple applicants to access private rented accommodation

We fund Spelthorne Rentstart, an independent charity which supports single and childless couples to access accommodation in the private sector.