- Please provide:
- The address of the property
- Contact details of the landlord
- How much the rent is and how often it is to be paid
- Length of tenancy and amount of the deposit
- On securing accommodation please provide:
- Copy of the Tenancy Agreement
- Proof of updating Universal Credit of the new tenancy details and the costs of this by uploading your tenancy agreement to your work journal and adding a note to your work journal or alternatively you could attend the job centre. If you are claiming housing benefit you will need to provide evidence that you have updated their teams
- If a lodging agreement is agreed, we can assist with a bond only
- You must inform the Deposit Guarantee Scheme office immediately of any changes in your circumstances
- If a visit is required, we will give a minimum of 24 hours’ notice - you must allow access to the property by the Deposit Guarantee Scheme staff
- You must inform the Scheme when you intend to leave
- At the end of your tenancy, you must return the property in a clean and tidy condition taking into consideration fair wear and tear. If we have to cover costs of a claim you may have to repay the Scheme. You will continue to be liable for any other claims made by the landlord. If the claims are not repaid you will not be liable to apply to the Scheme for assistance again.
Important notes on the scheme
- You must inform us if you are moving out. We may visit the property to ensure there are no missing or damaged items or outstanding rent arrears.
- The Deposit Guarantee Scheme does not find accommodation for anyone - we strongly recommend that you read the How to Rent Guide on the GOV.UK website
- A privacy notice can be found on our Privacy notices pages - by applying, you give consent to share information to progress your application
Appeals process
If you are deemed ineligible for the scheme and wish to contest the decision, you may submit a written appeal to housingneeds@oxford.gov.uk addressed to the PRS Placement and Procurement Team, quoting your Homeless Prevention case reference. Your application will then be reviewed by a member of the Rapid Rehousing Management Team.
Moving on and saving for your next deposit
We encourage new tenants to open a savings account with a government scheme (Help to Save on GOV.UK website) or a credit union to save enough to cover the tenancy deposit themselves for this property or another one if they want to move. You can contact Oxford Credit Union on 01865 777757 for more information.
