anyone from folkstone ? housing benefit question

[goldenbolls]

myself wife want to move to folkstone, we have a good friend living there and we really want to move away from belfast there is just nothing here for us anymore, we have discussed this and we are really willing to make the move soon. we have been to folkstone and we think its a lovely place ( lovely people ) with a far better climate etc then belfast, ( not much work down there but its the same everywhere right now) it is so miserable here !!! i am currently out of work although i am hoping to get work offshore soon. now here is the problem, we are on benefits at minute and i have called a few landlords in folkstone and they say they do not accept housing benefit. myself wife and daughter who is 2 years old, we are a decent family and keep our house in good order etc. what can we do ? how do we get housing benefit in folkstone if we were to make this move.

thanks

[petal54]

contact the council or benefits office of citizans advice

[rsvp]

contact estate agents - be open and above board and ask them.
Get written up to date reference from your existing landlord - previous landlords too if possible.
maybe the benefits office have a list of properties available to claimants.
check out the local papers - I'm sure I've noticed adverts offering rentals to DSS tenants.
put an advert in yourself saying what a decent family you are.

[sandyRoe]

And don't burn your boats. Make sure you have somewhere to live in Folkstone before giving up the tenancy you have in Belfast.

[pink-kittens]

I can assure you the weather is no more inclement than that of NI, although it probably has slightly less rain lol

If you call the local council rather than landlords you'll they may well have a list of landlords in that area who will accept tenants on HB

http://www.shepway.gov.uk/

[pink-kittens]

mmm that *you'll* shouldn't be there =)

[pink-kittens]

and check what you're entitled to as well
http://www.direct.gov...ow_income/DG_10018928

Don't know if they have this in operation in NI - Local housing Allowance

[sandyRoe]

In NI it's called Housing Benefit

[pink-kittens]

It's called housing benefit in England but how much HB is paid depends on the local area's LHA and it differs form area to area