Accommodation
Moving home is a significant life event and can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. To ensure a smooth move into new accommodation, it is always important to plan in advance, with support.
What options are available?
There are many options available for when you need accommodation, these include:
Who is involved?
The following may be able to help you consider your options.
- Children’s services
- Adult services – Preparing for Adulthood team
- SEND - Preparing for Adulthood team
- Supported living team
- Shared lives team
When will this happen?
It is important to think about and discuss housing needs from age 14 onwards so you can start to think about what is best for you and what skills you will need. Remember that to take on a housing tenancy, you must be 18 years old or above. Also, adult residential care placements are only available to those aged 18 or above.
How does it work?
A social worker would work with you to assess which is the most appropriate accommodation to meet your needs. Specialist supported living or shared lives team members may also support you with the transition to these types of accommodation.
If you would like to live in independent accommodation, you will need to complete a housing application for Leicester City Council (or for another local council if you are living outside of Leicester) or for a housing association. You could also look for privately rented accommodation. Your family, social worker or other professionals working with you can support you in this.
What are the costs of moving into new accommodation?
Depending on the type of accommodation that you move in to, you are likely to have costs that you may not have had previously.
If you move into independent accommodation, supported living and shared lives where you take on a tenancy or license agreement, you will need to pay rent and utility bills. These could include gas, water, electricity and council tax. You may also have other costs such as for assistive technology, furniture, appliances, gardening and maintenance services or other service charges. You may also have to pay towards the cost of your care and support.
You may be eligible for housing benefit to help towards the cost of rent so consider this when thinking about finding your own home.