Before signing any agreement, please make sure that you can afford the rent and bills, and check your rights and responsibilities: visit gov.uk
- Find out if any friends or relatives are prepared to let you stay temporarily
- Let friends, family and colleagues know that you are looking for somewhere to live. They may know or hear of suitable accommodation for you
- Look on Social Media, shop windows, supermarket notice boards and websites all sometimes advertise privately rented properties
- Register with letting agents and leave a name and contact number even if they don't have any accommodation straight away. You can also register on-line with some agencies such as Rightmove, Zoopla or Open Rent
- Landlords may require a guarantor, ask relatives and close friends if they are able to be a guarantor for you
- Register on the housing waiting list - online at Gateway to Homechoice to make an application for social housing available within the local authority areas of Babergh, Braintree, Colchester, Ipswich, Maldon, Mid Suffolk, East Suffolk
- Download and submit Property Declaration Form and Permission Declaration Form for your housing register application
- If you are threatened with, or are homeless, you may be offered a personal interview, usually by telephone with a member of the housing options team
- First homes First Homes scheme: discounts for first-time buyers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- For information about all aspects of renting a home, and how to avoid common pitfalls see https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/942503/6.6642_MHCLG_How_to_Rent_v5.pdf