When you’re looking for a place to live it’s a good idea to contact your nearest housing aid centre or citizens advice bureau (CAB).
They can tell you what’s available in your area and how much it might cost. Advisors will need to ask questions about where you are living and how much money you have to find out what your options are.
If you have been in care, when you leave social services has to give you advice and help you to make sure you’re prepared for living independently.
They should give you a personal advisor who will keep in touch with you until you’re 21 and can help you with education, employment and training.
Social services should also support you financially until you’re 18 (or until you turn 24 if you on go to full-time college or university.
How much money you have obviously affects your housing options.
Private land-lords usually ask for a month’s rent as deposit and 1 months rent in advance. If you’re on a low wage you might not be able to afford a deposit or a place with high rent. But you may be able to get housing benefit from your local council to help you pay the rent.
If you’re not working or are on benefits your options may be limited. It can be difficult to find a land-lord who’ll accept you if you’re unemployed, on a very low income or claiming benefits.
Local advice centres, drop-in centres or the CAB may know of landlords who are willing to accept young people who are claiming benefits.
If you have no income or are not sure about what help you can get, you might be entitled to benefits.
What benefits you can get will depend on your personal situation but most young people can claim Job-seekers allowance.
The rules about benefits are very complicated and if you’re under 18 you can only claim in certain circumstances. Advice centres (such as CRI YASS, CAB or Xtrax) can give information about benefits.
>> Next - housing benefit >>