Housing options and advice

If you decide to look for privately rented accommodation, the Council may be able to provide the following assistance:

• one month rent in advance
• security deposit paid
• landlord compliance check
• longest possible tenancy terms
• pre-inspection of the property
• practical and financial help with removals
• transport costs for viewing and moving if outside of London
• financial assistance to provide white goods if they aren’t provided by the landlord

Attend a training course

The Council provide free monthly tenancy training sessions for those wishing to find their own accommodation. To enquire about attending the next course, please contact us on 020 8356 4411.

Use our 6-step guide to help you look for a property.

There are a number of websites where you can start to look for a property. A good starting point is:

• DSS Move
• Right Move
• Zoopla

You can also contact and visit estate agents to find out about the type of properties that they have on offer.

You may need to make sure that the landlord accepts tenants who are in receipt of benefits.

The Housing Moves scheme is the Mayor of London’s scheme to help social tenants in London to relocate to other boroughs.

All council tenants and housing association tenants can apply under the scheme, as long as they have a secure or assured tenancy. Priority is given to:

• people who have more bedrooms than they need and wish to downsize
• people in work or training
• people who want to move to give care

To find out more and to register for the scheme visit Housing Moves.

As a social tenant, you can apply to exchange properties with other council tenants within the borough or with tenants from another council, housing association or other housing providers.

You can get a mutual exchange application form by contacting your local neighbourhood housing office on:

• 020 8356 3330
• neighbourhood@hackney.gov.uk

Homeswapper can help you to swap your council or housing association home with other social tenants with over 20,000 properties available.

Our fresh start scheme enables you to move outside of London into private rented accommodation or sheltered housing (age 55 and over).

To join the scheme you must be a Hackney resident and either:

• a secure council tenant
• a housing association tenant (where your landlord will give the property to the Council to let)

Permission to join the scheme may be refused if you are in rent arrears or have a history of anti-social behaviour. Contact us for more details.

• fresh start housing scheme brochure

If you are over 55 you can bid for social properties which are age-restricted and so you might be able to move into them more quickly than a standard property.

If you are over 60, the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme is open to Council or housing association tenants who live in London and want to relocate the countryside or the coast. All applicants must be at least 60 years of age and capable of independent living.

Find out more by contacting – 020 8356 5751/7232 or visit Seaside and Country Homes.