Shared tenancies

Durham Key Options is looking towards providing shared tenancies in future, to assist applicants that cannot afford to live independently or simply wish to reduce their living costs.

As a pilot, one of our partner landlords, believe housing, is already offering shared tenancies- providing an alternative to shared houses in the private rented sector.  This means that two people can share and each will have their own, separate tenancy agreement, but will share the costs of living in the home.

You could now share a typical two-bedroom flat, with rent about £37 per week.  Of course, there are other costs to living in a home, other than rent.  When you add in water, electricity and council tax it comes to around £63 a week.  But this is still less than the rent would be if you were living on your own.  By sharing you will also pay less for your utility bills, council tax and other bills, as you would share them equally with your housemate.

As well as being an affordable option for housing, if you choose to share a tenancy you will also benefit from a range of support including help with furniture, access to employability guidance or training and budgeting advice, plus access to a 24-hour emergency repairs service and all the other benefits that come with social housing. 

You may have someone in mind to share with such as a friend or a family member and that’s fine, you can approach believe housing about sharing together.  However, if you don’t know someone, believe housing will help you to match to a suitable housemate. Properties will be available for sharing across all our areas, you just need to talk to believe housing about where you would like to live and they will see what properties are available.

If you’re interested and want to find out more, please contact believe housing on 0300 1311 999.

To qualify for the pilot applicants would have to register or be registered for social housing with Durham Key Options. believe housing reserve the right to refuse access to a shared tenancy, if they believe the tenancy is not suitable or sustainable for the applicant.