Housing support service celebrates 1,000th milestone

Citizens Advice Hartlepool’s Housing Advice and Tenancy Support service has issued its 1,000th Bond Guarantee.

The guarantees are for people who cannot afford the cost of a bond or deposit which most private landlords ask for.

Under the bond scheme no money changes hands but the project will reimburse the landlord certain expenses when the tenancy ends.

The 1,000th Bond Guarantee was issued to Jamie Price to help him secure a flat in the Hartlepool area.

He said: “It was very easy to contact the CAB Housing Advice and Tenancy Support service and the staff were very polite and really helpful to me.

“Without their Bond Guarantee scheme I would not have been able to find accommodation. They also assisted me by filling in all the necessary forms. I would advise people who are struggling to find a property to rent to get in touch with the service.”

The project has received funding from a number of different bodies including the former Northern Rock Foundation and is now supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Lloyds Bank Foundation.

It is run by experienced caseworkers Angie Brough and Beverley Goodwin from the advice service in Park Road.

Manager Joe Michna said: “This is a very significant landmark for the project which has been at the forefront of tackling homelessness in Hartlepool for over 18 years.”