Help to find a private rented property
A private rented sector property is a residential property such as a house, flat, or bungalow, which is owned by an individual landlord or a company, who rent their properties to the public.
In many cases it is easier, quicker, and more convenient to secure a property in the private rented sector than it is to get a social housing property. This is especially true for larger families, where there is a large shortage of suitable social housing properties.
As there are far more private rented houses on the market, there are far more opportunities for flexibility, and to choose the right property which suits your needs. This is particularly true if you want to live in certain areas of the city, as the private rented sector gives far greater flexibility to choose where to live than the social housing property market does. This is also true if you only want to consider living in a house rather than a flat, as only 25% of properties let by Housing Associations in Coventry last year were houses.
What you need to rent privately
There are several documents that a landlord or letting agency will often ask for to ensure that you are reliable, that you can afford your rent, and to prove your identity. They may ask for documents such as:
- Proof of benefit
- Identification
- Proof of current address (if you have one)
- Your employment contract or accounts information if you are self-employed
- Recent bank statements or pay slips
- Immigration documents which prove your right to live in the UK
Finding a private rented property
There are many factors to think about when searching for a new place to live. Some of the most common factors are:
- Location
- Cost
- Transport links to jobs and schools
- Whether you need specialist accommodation (e.g. specific disabled access)
The easiest and fastest way to find a property is online, where you can search by the criteria you want (area, cost, etc) and arrange viewings. Private rented properties are often advertised on the following websites:
There are also many local lettings agencies in Coventry. You can find these by typing ‘Coventry lettings agencies’ into Google. Here you will be able to view properties from these agencies, and information including phone numbers and contact addresses, which can be used for further help to find a property. If you do not have easy access to the internet, you can find lettings agencies scattered across the city centre, and in some of the areas you may want to live.
If you are in receipt of housing benefit, you should not allow this to put you off trying to find a property in the private rented sector. Whilst there is a widely held belief that landlords will not let properties to people on benefits, this is not true and many people on benefits do successfully find adequate and affordable accommodation in the private rented sector.