Housing Advice

I would mainly recommend you try and contact either Citizens Advice Bureau or South West London Law Centre for housing advice.

Citizens Advice Bureau Wandsworth: https://cawandsworth.org/get-advice/ Number: 0808 278 7833

South West London Law Centre: https://swllc.org   Number: 020 8767 2777, email: enquiries@swllc.org.

Here is a list of possible support for you.

Rent and Council Tax
If you’re on a low income you may be able to get help with paying your rent and your Council Tax. You may also be eligible for Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.

Discretionary Housing Payments
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are for people receiving Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, including a housing element, who require further financial assistance with housing costs because their benefit does not cover their full rent.

Find out more about Discretionary Housing Payments.

Financial Inclusion Team
The Financial Inclusion Team provides benefits, budgeting and debt advice to council tenants who are having difficulty paying their rent.

They can provide advice to new tenants, benefit advice, help on dealing with debt, budgeting advice and help understanding your rent charges.

Downsizing
If you are a social housing tenant in a property with more bedrooms than you need, or your are struggling to heat and maintain your home, it could be beneficial to downsize. With the Room to Move scheme, you can get a payment of between £200 and £5000 depending on the size of your property.

Find out more about downsizing.

Wandsworth Council Local Assistance Scheme
For residents who receive welfare benefits who are subject to serious hardship, the Crisis Assistance scheme can help with the purchase of food and fuel and a Community Care Grant can help with the purchase of furniture and white goods.

South West London Energy Advice Partnership
SWLEAP provides energy advice across Richmond, Wandsworth and Merton to anyone in fuel poverty. This could be an energy visit to your home but we also provide advice at energy cafes in community settings, over the telephone or by email if you prefer.

Website: South West London Energy Advice Partnership
Telephone: 08000862706
Email: susan@habitatsandheritage.org.uk

Winter warmth home service
Crisis Support is available by phone including fuel vouchers for those with a prepay meter, emergency heating repairs for homeowners, referrals for insulation and heating grants (via Sustainable Warmth and Warmer Homes 3, and subject to available funding) and support applying to the Household Support Fund (where available).

Standard support is also available by home visit, including:

Carbon monoxide detectors
LED bulbs and radiator panels
Specialist advice on lowering your heating bills whilst keeping warm
Advice on energy and water bill tariff discounts including the 50 per cent Water Help discount and the Warm Home Discount (where available)
Assessments for grants for insulation and heating works
Referrals for benefit checks
Advice on health and wellbeing services in the borough
Referrals for a free smoke alarm.

Find out more about the winter warmth home service.