ways you can help a young person find housing
tips on finding, getting and/or staying in accommodation
have regular talks with the young person
You need to understand the young person’s housing situation to know how to help.
Talk to them about what options they might have, such as:
- staying with family or friends
- help if they’re behind in their rent
- help if they need rent and bond for a new property
- help with moving and travel costs to shift to another suitable place
- negotiating with landlords
- accommodation options they can afford.
If none of these options can work for the young person, look at transitional housing and then emergency accommodation.
information for young people who are looking for housing
It is important to understand a young person's situation and what their needs are, so you can give them the right information and most appropriate assistance. The more you know about a young person's situation, the more you might be able to help prevent a housing emergency.
You can talk to the young person about:
- housing options that suit their budget and where to look for accommodation
- advice on Accommodation Supplement or Temporary Additional Support
- private rental agencies
- other agencies or support services for help to retain a tenancy or secure housing
- advance or recoverable assistance payment for rent or bond.
If the young person has a serious housing need, and public housing is the best way to meet this need, then they should go through screening for the public housing register.
knowing how to be a good tenant
It’s one thing to get into accommodation, but it’s another thing to keep it. You can support a young person to learn good habits and understand what’s expected of a tenant.
Talk to them about good behaviours and ways to look after their accommodation, such as:
- ventilation
- preventing mould
- treating the property with respect
- cleaning
- disposing of rubbish.
These things will help keep their landlord happy and will contribute to a healthier home.
knowing your rights as a tenant
Talk to the young person about their rights as a tenant, what their landlord is allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do.
There are lots of places a young person can go for advice:
- Tenancy Tribunal
- Community Law
- Citizens Advice Bureau.