A new scheme has been launched by East Staffordshire Borough Council to support residents in rented accommodation who have experienced financial hardship during the pandemic.
Applications can be made between 1st December 2021 and 25th March 2022 for a one-off payment from East Staffordshire Borough Council for rent arrears. The scheme has a fixed budget meaning once the available funding has been spent the scheme will close to new applicants.
Payment can be made where all of the following apply:
- Applicants must reside within the East Staffordshire Borough Council area.
- Applicants must be a Private Rented Sector tenant until 1st March 2022, after which Social Rented Tenants will be considered if funds remain.
- Some of the arrears on the tenancy need to have been accrued during the COVID-19 Pandemic (i.e. 11 March 2020 onwards).
- The applicant must be unable to afford to repay the arrears within a reasonable timeframe, usually considered to be no more than six months.
- The situation that caused the arrears has been addressed satisfactorily, or is in the process of being addressed in a way which will offer the tenant a long term future in that property (i.e. the rent is affordable now and is expected to remain affordable).
- There is a risk of homeless if the scheme does not make a payment, and the landlord has agreed the tenancy can continue for the foreseeable future if the payment is made (this does not mean there needs to be specific threat of homelessness, such as notice having been served).
The Council will need to collect evidence from applicants and their landlord to satisfy these tests and it has discretion whether or not to pay each claim.
Councillor Raymond Faulkner, Deputy Leader for Environment and Housing, said: “This scheme is designed to help residents in rented accommodation who have experienced financial hardship during the pandemic. The scheme has a fixed budget so I would urge eligible households to come forward and apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment.”
To apply, contact the Housing Options team on 01283 508120. Further information will be required by email