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Private tenants

Private tenants

Private tenants can call upon Medway Council's Private Sector Housing team for a wide range of advice and support. Use the links below to find out more about the services that are available to you if you rent property from a private landlord.

Tenant Information Pack

Download the Tenant Information Pack (pdf 81KB) which will provide you with all the information you need to know when you first move into your rented property. To download this document you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this on your computer, please use our advice page.

Pest problems

Phone the council's Customer Service Team on 01634 333333 to sort out problems with pests such as rats and mice. The information you give will be passed to the council's Pest Control Team.

Homebond Scheme

Housing Solutions operates a three-tier Homebond scheme to assist you in finding affordable private sector housing, with the assistance of either rent in advance or a bond for the deposit or both, depending on your circumstances.

Following the restrictions imposed by the new single accommodation rate (SAR) for single households under the age of 35, Medway Council foresees a large demand for rooms in shared houses in the near future. As the current Homebond scheme is not suitable for assisting clients to secure a room in a shared house, a new tool has been developed to assist those affected by the SAR changes to secure accommodation rights.

Your landlord must provide you with a copy of the following:

Help with your rent

Disposal of rubbish

Dumping unwanted household goods makes Medway untidy and is illegal. If you are moving out of your property, you have a responsibility to leave the property in a clean and tidy condition and to ensure you do not leave unwanted furniture and rubbish.

If you have a lot of rubbish to get rid of, you should make arrangements to take it to a household waste and recycling centre. You must not dump rubbish on footpaths and alleyways. This is an offence and you could be prosecuted.

Bulky waste

If a large or bulky item is beyond re-use, Medway Council can collect it from a tenant’s home and dispose of it. Collections must be booked well in advance. Find out the bulky waste items that can be collected through this scheme.

Neighbourhood Furniture Store (NFS)

NFS recycles unwanted but functional, furniture. This Swale-based furniture-recycling scheme re-uses quality second-hand furniture for the benefit of people who cannot afford to buy new furniture for their homes.

RE-Computers

RE-computers is a recycling service for computers, televisions and electronic office equipment. It works very closely with Computer Aid International, providing professionally refurbished equipment of the highest quality from its workshop, which is run to help people who are unemployed but who have difficulties in gaining employment.

Housing standards

Find out about Medway Council's Private Sector Housing Service Standards.

Legal advice

  • Citizens Advice Medway offers free information and advice to help people resolve their housing issues.
  • Shelter is a registered charity that offers information and advice for all housing issues. Phone 0808 800 4444.
  • Civil legal advice offers free confidential advice on all tenancy issues. Phone 0845 3454345.

 

 

For more information contact Private Sector Housing by telephone: 01634 333757 or by email: housing@medway.gov.uk

Write to: Private Sector Housing, Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR

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