First time flat occupant - What grants are available?

penguineater

Hey everyone.

I am wondering if there are any grants available to buy necessary furniture for my new flat, such as a bed, fridge, freezer, cooker, washing machine, sofa etc.

I have done some searching and seen they used to give money but it was replaced with vouchers which is equally as fantastic in my opinion.

What would be the best way of going about getting the (not to sound greedy) most I could? Research tells me it's a good idea to put down as much as you can on the list of things you need to buy, as they only seem to give around 1/3 of the value?


Some information if it'll help in any way:

First time moving out of the family home into my own 1 bedroom flat
Early 20s
Apprenticeship working full time on ~£95 or so a week
Single
No kids
No disabilities
Not claiming any benefits

I am going to view a property tomorrow (yay) and can have the keys if I like it.


Thank you.

RuthnJasper

No experience with grants, alas, but have a look at your local Freecycle site. It's amazing, genuinely.

Here's a link: http://www.freecycle.org/

I've been a member for many years, received some wonderful essential items for free and happily given unneeded things of my own to grateful people who could use them.

Hope this is helpful. Best wishes to you, and every happiness in your lovely new home. x

Poppie68

Alot of these type of schemes are actually aimed at people who are in reciept of income related benefits. As the above poster recommended, try your local freecycle and in addition ask around with friends, relatives and neighbours, it's amazing what people can come up with when asked.

wildwestfan

Will you be able to afford to live independently?

£95 a week won't go far I'm afraid.

Upsidedown_Bear

Have you worked out how much your bills etc will cost?
£95 isn't a lot to live independently.

ETA
wildwestfan beat me to it

Dunroamin

Why on earth would you expect to get funding for furnishing a flat in your situation, particularly when you obviously can't afford to live there in the first place!

penguineater

Thank for you your kind replies, i'll be sure to keep an eye on freecycle and else where.

I used a housing benefit calculator which estimated around £22 a week rent which is very payable. I'll be just the same or better off than my current living situation regarding bills.

paddedjohn

Do you realise that you will only be eligible for help based on the shared accom rate and not the 1 bed rate

penguineater

paddedjohn wrote: »

Do you realise that you will only be eligible for help based on the shared accom rate and not the 1 bed rate

Not sure what you mean by this.

baza52

penguineater wrote: »

Not sure what you mean by this.

google it your not old enough to get the 1 bed rate.

Upsidedown_Bear

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/housing_benefit_for_young_people

ETA
^^^ is for England. Other countries are available