A home to call your own

Renting
Scouring the local paper can take a lot of time and energy. The Association of Residential Letting Agents’ website at www.arla.co.uk lists all the letting agents by area, as do both www.yell.com and www.thomweb.co.uk To search specifically for properties try www.homes2rent.net or www.fish4homes.co.uk.

If you’re still training and are looking to rent or share, your university, college or training provider should be able to offer support. They may have lists of local accommodation and many also have hardships funds if you’re finding it difficult to cover the cost of your rent.

Once you have found a rental property, you will need to find money to cover the deposit and usually at least one month’s rent in advance. If you have high housing costs and only one income in the family, you may be eligible for Housing Benefit.  You can contact Teacher Support Network to check your entitlement on 08000 562 561 in England and 08000 855 088 in Wales.

Key worker living
Key worker living is a government-funded scheme that helps key workers in London, the south east and east of England to buy a home, upgrade to a larger property to meet household needs or rent a home at an affordable price.

What is a key worker?
For the purposes of this scheme, a key worker is someone employed by the public sector in a frontline role delivering an essential public service in the areas of health, education and community safety where there are serious recruitment and retention problems.

Who can benefit?
As a teacher in a school, further education institution or sixth form college you are categorised as a key worker. Eligibility criteria can vary across regions depending on local recruitment and retention priorities. A full list of eligible roles can be found on the Housing Corporation website.

How do key workers apply?
To find out what is available locally and to obtain an application form, key workers must contact the HomeBuy Agent for the area in which they work.

What is a HomeBuy Agent?
A HomeBuy Agent is a registered social landlord (commonly known as Housing Association) that markets housing schemes including those for key workers across an area. HomeBuy Agents provide a one stop shop and point of contact for potential purchasers of the Open Market and New Build products. They deal with applications and arrange the help that key workers need.

A complete list of HomeBuy Agents and their contact details can be found on the DirectGov website.

For further information on all aspects of the key worker scheme visit the Communities and Government website.

Getting on the property ladder
Several schemes have launched in recent years, aimed at assisting people who cannot afford to buy property on the open market.

• Housing corporation – The Housing Corporation is the national Government agency that funds new affordable housing and regulates housing associations in England. They have about 500 staff based at nine offices throughout England (they do not work in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales).
• Housing options – The Housing Options Service has been designed to help those people in London who are unable to afford to buy their own home or rent a good quality home. For eligibility criteria and to apply visit their website.
• Housing Associations – have a range of affordable housing options on offer for low to middle income earners, including Shared Ownership schemes. Visit www.lhog.co.uk for more information.
• Shop around for the best mortgage offers – www.charcolonline.co.uk is a mortgage broker providing free, online advice.
• Contact your local authority to ask if it operates, or is aware of, local initiatives aimed at helping teachers.
• Shelter now provides free advice, information and help with legal and practical issues of finding accommodation. Either visit their website or call the support line on 0808 800 4444, available 8am-8pm seven days a week. If you would rather talk to someone in person check their website for advice centres near you.