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Homebond scheme

Medway Housing Solutions department provides officers with a comprehensive range of options to assist households with a local connection to the Medway area facing housing difficulties.

Many of these options are discretionary and are above and beyond what the legislation requires, they enable officers to make choices that would not normally be available to local people facing housing difficulties.

The Homebond scheme is just one of these discretionary options that an officer may consider using, depending on the facts of the case before them. Each case is assessed to ensure the household is being considered for an appropriate and affordable solution.

Officers may consider issuing a Homebond, as one of the homelessness prevention options available to them. The Homebond scheme has distinct categories that an officer will consider; these are identified below:

For the under 35s with no priority need

Medway Council has recently launched the Multi Occupancy Bond. This enables non priority households below the age of 35 to access a room in shared accommodation by providing them with a bond. The bond is designed to overcome the need for these households to find a deposit. This new bond has been introduced by Medway Council to assist clients that will be affected by the recent changes made in the Housing Benefit rules and regulations that restrict the amount of benefit these households are able to access. 

Bronze

This is a written bond offering a guarantee to pay the equivalent of up to one month's rent in the event of damage by the tenant at the end of the tenancy. Issue is based on a comprehensive case and financial assessment. The Bronze homebond maybe considered as an option for:

  • single people;
  • couples over the age of 18 with no children;
  • people who have been found to be non-priority or intentionally homeless.

The bond is valid for 12 months, this enables households to save for their own deposit to replace the bond at the end of the 12-month period.

Silver

This is a written bond offering a guarantee to pay the equivalent of up to one month's rent in the event of damage by the tenant, valid for the full period of the tenants occupation. May include a repayable sum for rent in advance. Issue is based on a comprehensive case and financial assessment. The Silver homebond maybe considered as an option for:

  • a pregnant woman or a person with whom she resides;
  • a person with whom dependent children reside;
  • a person who is vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness, physical disability or other special reason, or with whom such a person resides.

Gold

This is a written bond offering a guarantee to pay the equivalent of up to one month's rent in event of damage by the tenant. One month’s rent in advance and a one-off grant of £150, which should be be set off against administration fees.  Issue is based on a comprehensive case and financial assessment. The Gold homebond maybe considered as an option for people who have a priority need or are unintentionally homeless and have a local connection with Medway and are considered to be difficult to accommodate.

 

Download the Homebond scheme leaflet (pdf 1,665KB). To use this document you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this on your computer, please use our advice page.

For more information contact Housing Solutions by telephone: 01634 333600 or by email: housing@medway.gov.uk

Write to: Housing Solutions, Medway Council, Riverside One, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4SL

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