Housing
Feeling safe, comfortable and secure in your home is essential to your quality of life and the quality of life for the person you care for.
Housing in Southwark
Southwark has a severe shortage of local authority homes to rent. Most of the council’s properties are flats above ground floor level on estates. Very few properties have gardens and larger properties are in very short supply. It is important that if you have special requirements that mean you need to move or have your home adapted, you make these known to the Housing Advice Service when you contact them.
The Housing Advice Service provides specialist advice and help to people who have housing issues. They can offer advice and assistance with issues like:
- renting from private landlords
- long and short term hostels
- registering for council housing
- moving to a new home in another part of the country
- application for sheltered housing
- referrals to other voluntary and statutory agencies for assistance eg. homelessness service, connexions etc…
If you think you are homeless or going to be homeless within 28 days, call the Home Searchline on 020 7525 4208.
You can also visit your Housing Officer at your Area Housing Office (AHO). Some AHOs are now called One Stop Shops.
Special Needs Accomodation
There are a number of options available if you are elderly or you or the person you care for has a disability.
The Home Improvement Agency deliver essential adaptations and repairs to vulnerable private tenants and homeowners and assistance to maximise your income.
The Housing Adaptations team can deliver adaptations to your property if you are a disabled council tenant. What help you receive will depend on the recommendation of an occupational therapist (OT). Contact the OT teams on 020 7525 3959 to find out what help may be available.
Help with housing costs
Housing benefit
Housing benefit is paid by local authorities to people on low income to help with the cost of rented accommodation.
If you pay a mortgage you cannot get housing benefit, but you might qualify for help with interest payments through Income support. Information and claim forms are available from your local One Stop Shop or your Area Housing Office.
Council tax benefit
If you are on a low income, employed or unemployed you may be eligible for a payment of up to 100% of your council tax bill. Contact your AHO or One Stop Shop for details.
In addition, If you live with the person you care for you might be able to get a discount on your council tax.
