SmartMove is a deposit guarantee scheme for single people or childless couples who are homeless or vulnerably housed and looking for accommodation in Worcester city. The scheme is one of a country-wide network operated as a franchise from Crisis, the national homeless charity. worcester housing and benefit advice centre is one of five Regional Development Partners who are working together with Crisis to develop the SmartMove model.

SmartMove offers help with identifying and securing suitable housing options. This can range from accessing emergency or temporary accommodation such as hostels or bed & breakfast, applying to supported housing schemes and registered social landlord’s waiting lists to pursuing an application to the local authority if the individual is deemed to be homeless and in priority need.

To help applicants on benefits or a low income to access private rented sector tenancies in Worcester city, SmartMove can provide:

· a written guarantee bond (up to the maximum of a month’s rent) against loss or damage, in place of the traditional cash deposit,

· rent in advance (subject to reimbursement from housing benefit)

· help with finding a suitable vacancy by ‘matching’ applicants with landlords already recruited to the scheme.

In turn, tenants who have received this service agree for any housing benefit to be paid direct to the landlord, keep to the terms of the tenancy agreement, save towards their own cash deposit and refund any money that the scheme has to pay out on their behalf.

SmartMove also helps people to settle into and maintain their tenancies, providing practical assistance with acquiring furniture and setting up housing benefit claims and utilities etc. as well ongoing advice and mediation as required. There is also the facility to refer service users to one of the Centre’s Housing Support Workers if they require planned ongoing support (see Housing Support Services).