2. Tenancy Sustainment
Tenancy Sustainment
East Devon District Council’s Housing Options team would like to support our local letting agents and landlords and tenants by offering a service dedicated to you.
In order to encourage long lasting successful tenancies we are here to help with all tenancy related issues. We’re here to support you.
How the Scheme works
We encourage landlords and letting agents to contact us with tenancy related concerns such as late payment of rent, noise complaint.
Your tenant does not need to be in receipt of benefits, or to have had any previous involvement with the council. Our priority is to prevent homelessness for everyone.
Who can utilise the Scheme
Every letting agent and landlord in East Devon can contact us for assistance. There are no fees or commission for using our services.
What can we help with?
We can help with ANY issue which may result in a tenant potentially being served with notice; late payment of rent, rental arrears, anything.
Rent arrears
One of the most common issues during a tenancy is rent arrears. We have a number of options available to help with rental arrears. Some of these include arranging for tenants to attend a Homemaker financial assessment; Homemaker will assess your tenant’s income and expenditure and advise on income maximisation, how and where they can save money and what payments they should be prioritising.
We can look for debt relief solutions and seek out any grants and financial assistance your tenants may be eligible for. If your tenants rent is still unaffordable we can work with you to move your tenant onto more affordable accommodation as soon as possible. If your tenant is in receipt of Housing Benefit we can assist in applying for Discretionary Housing Payments to make up the shortfall in rent.
Tenancy support
We can provide advice and assistance to your tenants to support them in sustaining their tenancy.
We can signpost tenants to agencies for help with support needs including drugs, alcohol, financial and family breakdown.
We can help with the transition from legacy benefits to Universal Credit.
Landlord support
We want to ensure that that our Landlords are supported and that our tenants can access a good standard of private rental accommodation.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with us for any of your tenancy related issues; rentdepositscheme@eastdevon.gov.uk
Useful Information
Energy Performance Certificates; As of 1st April 2018 there will be a requirement for any private rented sector property to have a minimum energy performance rating of E on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Please visit www.gov.uk for more information.
Tenant Fees Act; The Tenant Fees Act bans most letting fees and caps tenancy deposits paid by tenants in the private rented sector in England. The ban on tenant fees applies to new or renewed tenancy agreements signed on or after 1 June 2019. Please visit Tenant Fees Act - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
How to Let Guide; How to let - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities in the private rented sector – published April 2019; Landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities in the private rented sector - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)