Find out why private renting may be your best option
Renting privately
If you're looking for a home, private renting may be the quickest way to find housing and offers a great deal of choice. There are some advantages:
- Flexibility: You may have greater flexibility about where you live - allowing you to live near your work, family or other local services - as well as flexibility about the type of property you live in.
- Speed: You may be able to move into an area of your choice more quickly, especially if you are on a lower priority for social housing on Homechoice (or not registered/eligible).
- Improved protection: The law has changed, giving you a greater degree of protection if you want to stay in your property long-term, plus flexibility if you want to move on.
However, the private rented sector can be challenging to access, and finding an affordable home that meets your needs often takes persistence.
Here is some information that might help you before, during and at the end of your tenancy - as well as a summary of how we may use the private rented sector to fulfil our legal duties.
Before signing a tenancy agreement
Before signing a tenancy agreement, make sure the property is truly suitable for your needs. It should be:
- Affordable: Use tools like Turn2Us and Money Helper to calculate what financial help might be available, and what you can realistically afford. If you're on a low income, check the council’s website for information on Local Housing Allowance.
- Available: If you’re getting help with your rent deposit or are relying on a rent guarantee product, check that the landlord will accept this. Following the Renters Rights Act, there are new rules about keeping pets at your property - landlords can still refuse to accept pets if there is good reason.
- Genuine: Be cautious of scams. Always deal directly with landlords or reputable letting agents and never send money before viewing the property. Your local Trading Standards team will be able to provide further advice.
- Safe: Your home must be free from damp and mould, and it should be energy-efficient enough to stay warm in winter and cool in summer. Our Housing Standards team can help if you are concerned about the condition of a property.
Finding a privately rented property in a competitive market can be tricky. To increase your chances of success:
- Be honest: Let agents know your situation clearly and confidently.
- Pick up the phone if you can: A quick call can make a strong impression. If you make an enquiry on Rightmove, try to personalise it.
- Treat viewings like interviews: Be punctual, polite, and prepared.
- Keep trying: Even if it takes many attempts - persistence pays off.
Need further help finding a private rented property?
We work closely with the Sustainable Housing Pathway Service (SHPS) to help people find good quality privately rented housing.
If you are homeless, or think you might be about to be homeless, speak to our Housing Options Team.
During your tenancy
Get help early if you are struggling with your rent. Services like turn2us can help direct you towards help with the cost of rent. Locally, Norfolk Citizens Advice can advise if you’re struggling to juggle rent and bills.
If you receive help with rent (Housing Benefit, or the housing element of Universal Credit), report any changes of circumstance immediately. If you get a new job, if someone moves in or out, or if you receive an inheritance (or other change of income), tell the council or DWP (whoever helps you with your rent). This could prevent you from being overpaid benefits and getting into debt.
If you don’t get on with your neighbours or housemates, there’s a range of support available. There’s help online at the Shelter website for low-level issues - or there’s help from the council if there’s ongoing antisocial behaviour. If you have been a victim of (or witness) to a crime, Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care can provide support and advice, regardless of whether you’ve reported the crime.
If there’s a repair issue, including damp and mould, talk to your landlord first. They must investigate and resolve the situation if there’s an underlying issue. If you are still having problems, there’s help available from the council’s Housing Standards team.
Your home is your landlord’s property. You should give your landlord access to the property to inspect it or carry out repairs. They must give you at least 24 hours’ notice and visit at a reasonable time of day, unless it’s an emergency and they need immediate access.
If you’re struggling with something else, there are local agencies who can help you. Talk to SHPS or to the council - it’s never too early or too late.
At the end of your tenancy
If you’re bringing the tenancy to an end
Under new rules, you will need to give a maximum of two months’ notice to end your tenancy - but you can do this at any point of your tenancy.
If your landlord is serving you notice
Under new rules, your landlord will need to specify a reason for ending the tenancy. For example, a landlord wanting to sell their property must give four months’ notice and cannot use this within the first 12 months of a tenancy.
They must also give notice in a particular way - using a “section 8 notice of seeking possession” and giving the correct notice period. Landlords can no longer issue “Section 21” notices, even if your tenancy agreement says they can.
If your landlord is bringing your tenancy to an end, talk to us. You can contact SHPS or the council even if you’ve not been served notice yet.
Further guidance - including how to end your tenancy well, and what to do if you dispute a deduction from a rent deposit - can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Using the PRS to end your homelessness
Our Private Rented Sector policy explains how the Council helps people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home by using privately rented housing. If social housing isn’t available (due to supply, suitability of size, location or other factors), the Council may offer you a home in the private rented sector to help you avoid homelessness or find somewhere to live.
What we offer
Any property offered to you must be suitable for your needs. This means it should be:
- safe
- in good condition
- affordable based on your income, and
- in a suitable location - such as being close to work, schools, transport, and essential services.
The aim is to provide a stable home that you can keep for the long term. We will work with SHPS and other partners to identify suitable privately rented properties.
How it works
If you qualify for help, the Council will assess your situation and may place you on a list for private rented homes. When a property becomes available, people are prioritised based on their needs, especially those who are least likely to be housed through social housing.
You will be given information about the property and the chance to view it before deciding. If you accept a suitable offer, the Council’s housing duty to you may end.
The Council can also help you find your own private rental, offering advice, support services, and financial help with a deposit or rent in advance where needed.
Overall, the aim is to help you find safe, suitable housing as quickly as possible and support you to stay there.
Further information
Our policy for helping people access the private rented sector can be found below. If you need further help, then please contact us using our details at the bottom of this page.