Private Renting

There are a number of costs that you must consider when renting a property, but with the right advice and information you can ensure that you are able to afford your:

* Rent
* Council Tax
* Utilities - Gas, Electric, Water
* Other household or living costs

Rent and Council Tax
If you are on a low income, you may qualify to receive help towards your Rent and/or Council Tax in the form of Housing and Council Tax Benefit. The maximum amount of Housing Benefit that can be paid depends on the size of the property that your household needs and is set by Local Housing Allowance rates. Click here to see the latest rates.

For more information or to make a claim, contact a member of the new claims team on 0800 028 2569.

Utilities and Other Costs
The cost of utilities can vary depending on the size, location and energy efficiency of your property. There are a number of schemes available that can offer advice to households to become more energy efficient. 

Plan your budget
Whether you are currently living in private rented accommodation or looking to move into a private rented tenancy, it is important to plan your budget. The Money Advice Service have an online budget planner which may help you. Click here to visit their website. 

Many landlords and letting agents require a bond from tenants to cover the cost of any damage or unpaid rent. The amount of bond is usually equivalent to one months rent although this can vary. If you are unable to raise your own bond there may be schemes that can assist you. Torfaen County Borough Council currently work in partnership with Pobl to provide bond assistance. For more information on whether you would be eligible for assistance with a bond, contact Pobl on 01633 225092 or click here to visit their website

Remember: if you pay a cash bond directly to a landlord or letting agent, it must be registered with one of the government’s authorised Tenancy Deposit Schemes. For more information, click here to visit the GOV.UK website.