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Emergency Accommodation Leaving Home Sleeping Rough Accommodation Accommodation If you are looking for accommodation of your own it is vital to plan and prepare ahead. The better you do this, the more chance you have of finding something that suits your needs. Think:   where do you want to live?   do you want to share with other people?   would you be scared if you found yourself totally alone in a bedsit or flat?   how do you find somewhere to live? Find out:   what you are entitled to.   what financial support you would get. Make sure you seek advice. Accommodation - main types There are three main types of accommodation available:   council accommodation   housing associations   privately-rented accommodation Council accommodation and housing associations Council accommodation and housing associations offer a good standard of property and are a good long-term choice but opportunities for young people are limited. Remember that:   council accommodation often has a long waiting list unless you are in a high priority category   housing associations are usually linked to local council housing waiting lists. List of housing associations can be found in local telephone directories (including the online Yellow Pages at www.yell.com). For more information about council and housing association accommodation For further information on both types of accommodation contact your local housing advice line:.   Mendip 01749 648999   Sedgemoor 0845 4082547   South Somerset 01935 462 771   Taunton Deane 01823 356356   West Somerset 01643 703 704 Privately-rented accommodation Examples of privately-rented accommodation:   bedsits: usually a self-contained room in a house or building which has other bedsits within it. Your bedsit may have its own cooking facilities   lodgings: often a room in a family house   flat or house share: usually your own room plus shared communal rooms such as kitchen and bathroom Things to consider   this type of accommodation isn't as secure as the accommodation provided by the council or housing associations (but would give some security)   private accommodation is more expensive than housing associations and council accommodation   many landlords ask for a deposit and rent in advance. They might not take young people on benefits   there is a shortage of properties where landlords will take young people   it's worth checking out your rights and responsibilities. Contact Citizens Advice Bureau (see addresses in Your Town/Area) or your local housing advice line. Where to look for privately rented accommodation:   local newspapers   shop windows   friends and relations   accommodation agencies Legal considerations It is important that you are aware of what tenancy or licence you have. This will determine your rights and what security you have to live in that property. A tenancy is a bundle of legal rights that gives responsibilities to a landlord and a tenant. If you are 18 or over you can hold a tenancy in your own name. If you are 16 or 17 years old you can't hold a tenancy in your name but it can be held in trust. This means an adult can be a guarantor for you. This could be a parent, older brother or sister, social worker or someone else. It can be difficult to understand what type of tenancy or licence you have. If uncertain it may be worth contacting Shelter to understand what arrangement applies to your tenancy. Tenancy support services Tenancy support is a service sometimes provided by a council, housing association or housing charity. It can support you with things like:   claiming housing benefit   finding grants for furniture   budgeting   setting up gas, electricity and water accounts To find out more call Shelter on 0800 1690317. Predetermination of rent If you have found a place you would like to rent contact your local housing benefit office and ask them for a Predetermination of Rent. This means that, if you are eligible, you will be told how much housing benefit you will receive. Other types of accommodation You may find the following are able to offer accommodation designed for young people aged 16 or over:   Bridgwater and Sedgemoor: YMCA 01278 422511   Mendip: YMCA 01749 670761   Taunton and West Somerset: Taunton Association for the Homeless 01823 254557   Yeovil and South Somerset: Trinity Foyer 01935 414479 See also Your Town/Area on this site. Some of this accommodation is supported accommodation. If you are not ready to live completely alone this could be an option for you. This way at least one adult, employed by the housing organisation, will be around to help with problems. Some places also offer prepared meals. Return to top of page Make text larger Make text smaller Text Only Display Privacy Policy/Terms of Use