Why do we provide a Tenancy Support Service?
The Tenancy Support Scheme was initially set up to
combat a problem that Cymdeithas Tai Eryri was having
with a high turnover of tenants. It was felt that the
high turnover was due to the fact that many people were
moving into properties who simply did not have the
knowledge or skills to live independently.
The Tenancy Support scheme was set up in January 2001
with the aim of providing individual tailored support to
tenants in need.
What does the service do?
The Tenancy Support Service has the following aims:
- to help prevent tenancy failure and hence help
reduce turnover
- to prevent homelessness, where possible, and help
re-integrate socially excluded people into society
- to develop the capacity of younger, vulnerable
tenants to shape their own destinies by helping them
develop life skills, practical abilities and
confidence
Who is the service for?
Any tenant or applicant whom it is felt would
benefit from support can be referred by any member of
the Tenancies Team to the Tenant Support Officer.
What we can offer
The Tenant Support Officer (TSO) will help tenants with:
- Benefits Advice
Advice on benefits such as Housing Benefit, Income
Support, Job Seekers allowance, Disability Benefits,
Working Families Tax Credit etc. The support can cover
helping to fill out forms and contacting the relevant
agencies
- Budgeting Advice
The TSO can help with advice on preparing and keeping
to a budget
- Utilities Changeover
The TSO can help new tenants get all their utilities
(gas, eater and electricity) connected
- Furnishing the Property
This is for clients with little or no furniture. CTE
will provide advice on the best places to get cheap
quality furniture and the most important items to get
first. In some instances CTE may be able to put
clients in touch with other people or agencies
donating furniture
- Applying for Grants
Tenancy Support Officer will help tenants and
applicants to apply for grants from known
organisations
- Education and Training Advice
This includes advice on the courses available, contact
details for local colleges and help completing
application forms
- Referrals to Other Agencies
If the tenant requires a level or type of support not
offered by CTE, the TSO will refer them to a more
appropriate agency
- Help Finding Alternative Accommodation
The TSO can help the tenant to explore the different
options available to them and assist them with finding
alternative accommodation
- Advocacy and Liaison
This is where a Tenant Support Officer acts as a
go-between for the tenant and another agency
Eligibility criteria for the service
- the tenant’s family members are unwilling or
unable to offer the level of support it is felt that
the tenant needs
- the tenant/applicant has no or very little
experience of living independently or has lived
independently with little success
- the tenant/applicant has little or no furniture
and no means by which to get any
- the tenant/applicant is not aware of the full
costs of living independently and would benefit from
receiving help with budgeting
- the tenant’s flat is known to be in a bad state of
repair (which is the fault of the tenant)
- there is evidence that the tenant does not know
how to keep themselves or their flat clean or of how
to use their gas/cooker
- the tenant has accumulated more than £500 of rent
arrears
Aims
The scheme aims to ensure that tenants are treated with
dignity and respect, and will have independence, choice
and control over their own lives.
The Tenant Support Scheme aims to empower tenants and
to encourage them to be able to do things for
themselves.
The service provides tenants with the necessary
skills and confidence to enable them to carry out a
successful tenancy and to live an independent life. As
well as providing the tenants with these skills in terms
of the activities carried out in the tenancy management
plan, all service users are encouraged to do things for
themselves where appropriate, and to take an active role
in decision-making.
Tenants are encouraged to participate in their
individual support programme, as well as in improving
the service for all users. Tenants are sent satisfaction
questionnaires, in order to be consulted on changes, to
gauge their satisfaction with the service and to suggest
improvements to the scheme.
Click on the following link for a PDF copy of our Support Leaflet
Click on the following link for a PDF copy of our My Home booklet
