Finding Accommodation

Social Housing in North Dorset is in very short supply and there is an extremely high demand for the limited number of Housing Association properties that become available. This means that waiting times can be very long and the choice you are offered will be limited. By contrast, the private sector is thriving in North Dorset and allows you to choose from a range of accommodation types and locations. Finding accommodation independently in the private sector may be your best or only realistic housing option.

Tenancy Deposit Protection

From April 2007 your Tenancy Deposit money is protected. More information is available on the Directgov website

Sources for finding private sector vacancies

There are many ways to find accommodation in the private sector. Landlords advertise available properties and it is a good idea to look in as many places as possible.

Try to widen your areas of choice as much as possible. The smaller the area you wish to rent in, the less likely you will be to find somewhere or the less choice you will have, especially in rural areas.

Newspapers

The Blackmore Vale appears weekly on Thursday and carries classified ads from both letting agents and private landlords. It is a good idea to get hold of a copy as soon as it comes out as many landlords will be phoned straight away and properties may have gone by the end of the day.

The Dorset Echo comes out daily and covers North Dorset and the surrounding area. It carries classified ads for rented accommodation.

The Vale Advertiser is a free paper which comes out weekly on a Friday. It carries classified ads for rented accommodation.

The Western Gazette publishes every Thursday and has 5 different editions for different parts of Dorset. It carries classified ads for rented accommodation.

Trading papers

These are usually published weekly and carry classified type adverts for many different things including rented accommodation. It is also worth searching the websites of ‘on-line only’ trading sites and the local websites of national trading newspapers.

Dorset Ad Trader is published weekly on Wednesday. It carries ads for rented accommodation.

Trade it is a national classified ad paper. From the web page you can link to DorsetCounty and then to individual towns within this area.

Dorset Ad-Zooks is an online trading newspaper carrying thousands of adds including ones for rented accommodation.

Notice-boards and shop windows

Cards placed in newsagents’ windows often advertise flats or rooms at the cheaper end of the market. You should go round the area you are interested in as regularly as you can to check if new ads have been placed.

Students’ union, college or hospital notice boards

If you are a student, your college or university may be able to help you find somewhere to stay. You should contact your students' union or college Accommodation Officer for more details. Hospital notice boards also often carry ads for accommodation.

Word of mouth

Friends, family and workmates often tend to be a good source for finding out about accommodation. It is a good idea to let as many people as possible know that you are looking for somewhere to live.

Letting Agencies

Accommodation agencies let and manage rooms, flats and houses on behalf of private landlords. Most agencies advertise in the local press, Yellow Pages and the Thomson Local Directory. It is advisable to visit a number of different agencies to increase your chances of finding accommodation. Agencies can sometimes be expensive, as they often charge fees, and will expect rent in advance and a security deposit.

Advertise Yourself

As well as looking at adverts it is a good idea to put your own ‘looking for accommodation’ ads into at least some if not all of the local papers. Say what kind of accommodation you are looking for, how much you can pay and a little bit about yourself. Remember to include your contact details or a box number.

Websites for rented accommodation

There are many more sites advertised on the specialised web sites than ever make it into the local papers. These cover houses, flats and rooms in shared accommodation. You can browse by location, type or price and register your details to be emailed when a suitable property is listed. Just as with adds in the papers, you can advertise yourself on these websites as looking for accommodation and landlords and tenants can then contact yourself directly. If a website lets you post a ‘wanted ad’ then it is a good idea to do so.

www.gumtree.com

www.housepals.co.uk

www.spareroom.co.uk

www.findaproperty.com

www.flatmateclick.co.uk

www.nextroommate.com

www.mondaytofriday.com

www.easyroommate.com

www.fish4.co.uk/iad/lettings

www.friday-ad.co.uk

www.rightmove.co.uk

www.torent.co.uk

If you do not have email, you can sign up for a free account with companies such as www.yahoo.co.uk, and www.hotmail.com.

The local libraries in North Dorset have free internet access.

Types of Accommodation

While many people would like their own place, this is often not possible when renting. It can be very expensive to rent your own flat or house. There are two ways to find cheaper accommodation: look for rooms in shared houses or for lodgings.

Shared accommodation is often very central in location and can be found relatively cheaply. Bills are shared which means that it can be much cheaper to rent in an otherwise expensive location. Likewise, lodgings in an owner’s home is often much cheaper. You have less rights as a lodger but the rent in advance and deposit is often much lower.

Securing a place

When looking for private accommodation it is often ‘first-come first-served’ so it pays to contact landlords as soon as you see the vacancy. Try to give a good impression over the ‘phone. You will often be asked some questions about yourself such as whether you are working, whether you have children, how old you are, whether you smoke or whether you have pets. It is better to be honest about these answers because you need to find a home that is suitable for you and your family and a landlord who is happy with yourself as a tenant.

When you meet the landlord aim to give a good impression. Viewing a property, even a cheap bedsit, is similar to an interview for both parties so it pays to be on time and to pay attention to presentation and manner. There will probably be more people wanting the same vacancy so the better impression you can give to the landlord the more likely you are to be offered the room.

If you do not have the rent or deposit ready to give to a landlord, say so, and offer other alternatives. Many landlords do not want a large deposit in advance or are willing to negotiate.  If you are claiming benefits you can claim a Crisis Loan to cover the first month’s rent in advance. You will need to speak to your Benefits Office about this. If you are using the Rent Deposit Scheme then have some leaflets about it with you to give to the landlord.

Even if you are working you may still be eligible for Housing Benefit. Housing Benefits is a complicated area but you can find out how much Housing Benefit you would receive by filling out a Pre-Tenancy Determination Form. These are available from the main reception at North Dorset District Council. You can ask the landlord to fill in parts of it. This is handed in to Housing Benefits Department and you will receive an estimate of how much Housing Benefit you would receive on that property. It is only an estimate but it helps to decide whether somewhere is affordable before you make a commitment.

If you are claiming Housing Benefit but it is not paying all of the rent, you should apply for a ‘Discretionary Housing Payment’. This is a ‘top-up’ type of payment decided on a case by case basis by the Housing Benefit Team. It can give you extra Housing Benefit to cover the rent due if you are struggling or have good reasons why it should be paid.

Housing Benefit

Housing Application Form

Housing Benefit Calculator