SmartLets
We are a dedicated team, focused on offering advice, information and practical support for people in Worcester who are homeless or vulnerably housed. We provide good quality, safe and affordable housing and our clients benefit from our direct links to benefit and debt caseworkers at Citizen Advice.
Who can we help?
Single people and childless couples over the age of 18 who have a low income or are in receipt of benefits and in need of housing support. Our clients are often vulnerable but usually have no priority need for assistance from the local authority.
What do we offer?
You will receive a full housing assessment by one of our experienced Project Workers where your circumstances will be discussed in detail to identify your personal housing needs. If we think you are being made homeless unfairly you will be referred to our Housing Caseworker who will contact, you separately to find out more. They may investigate your case further and could liaise with your landlord or the local authority to help prevent you from losing your home.
If, following the initial assessment process we feel that you are a suitable candidate for one of our schemes we will place you on our waiting list either for a room in a shared house where you will receive personalised support in order to gain the necessary skills required to move on to more settled accommodation, or we may consider you for low support self-contained accommodation that we manage.
Other ways we can help.
If you find your own accommodation and it meets the necessary requirements, we may be able to offer your landlord a bond of up to £750 in place of a traditional cash deposit. We can also sometimes apply for a charitable grant of up to £500 for rent in advance or a deposit. It is important that you do not sign a tenancy agreement or move in until you have been given the go ahead by us as we won’t be able to release the funds retrospectively.
Are you a landlord?
We offer a full managed service with several benefits to landlords including,
- A waiting list of fully checked and assessed clients.
- A ‘bond guarantee’ of £750 in place of a cash deposit for secure tenancies.
- Free tenancy agreement and inventory.
- Free sign up and rent collection.
- Regular property checks.
- Mediation with tenants.
- Support during the tenancy.
- Guaranteed rent for our supported accommodation.