Help with essential furniture on a low income

Being offered the keys to a council or housing association flat is a relief, but many tenancies start with bare floors and empty rooms. People leaving temporary accommodation, a refuge, care or prison, or rebuilding after a relationship breakdown, often have no bed, no table and nowhere to put the children's clothes. Without basic furniture, a tenancy is harder to sustain, and the temptation to sign up for weekly payment plans is strong.

This guide explains where people on a low income in the UK can find free or low-cost furniture, which grants exist for setting up a home, and how to avoid the high costs of rent-to-own and catalogue credit.

Work out what is essential

Start with what you need to live safely and comfortably, then add the rest over time. A typical priority list looks like this:

• a bed and mattress for each person (cots for babies);
• bedding and curtains or blinds;
• somewhere to sit and a table to eat at;
• storage for clothes;
• floor coverings where floors are bare and cold;
• basic kitchen equipment such as pans and plates.

Cookers, fridges and washing machines are covered separately in our page on help with household appliances.

Grants for setting up home

Each nation has a scheme that can help people establish or keep a home:

• Scotland: the Scottish Welfare Fund's Community Care Grants can help people setting up home after a period of homelessness, care or institutional living, or to stay in the community. Items are often provided rather than cash.
• Wales: the Discretionary Assistance Fund's Individual Assistance Payments can help with furniture and essential items for people moving into or staying in their home.
• Northern Ireland: Discretionary Support can provide grants or interest-free loans for household items in certain circumstances.
• England: councils run local welfare or crisis support schemes, and some provide furniture packs or vouchers for reuse shops. Availability varies a lot from one area to another.

These schemes are funded from a limited budget, so apply as soon as you know the date of your move, and say if you have children, a health condition or no bed at all. If you are refused, ask for the reasons and whether a review is possible: a second look, with more detail or a supporting letter, sometimes leads to a different decision.

Applications are usually stronger when supported by a housing officer, support worker or social worker who can confirm your circumstances.

Ask your landlord and support services

Some social landlords offer furnished or part-furnished tenancies, starter packs, or links to local furniture projects. Ask your housing officer before you move in. If you are leaving supported accommodation, a refuge or care, your key worker may be able to secure items as part of the move-on plan.

Charities working with particular groups, such as veterans, care leavers, people fleeing domestic abuse or people with a serious illness, sometimes fund furniture. Turn2us offers a grant search that filters by circumstance. If the cost of moving itself is the problem, our page on help with moving costs may help.

Free and second-hand furniture

Furniture reuse charities collect donated items, check them and pass them on at low cost, with reduced prices for people receiving benefits or referred by an agency. Many operate through the Reuse Network. Charity furniture shops, community "free shops" and local online giveaway groups are other good sources.

When buying or accepting second-hand furniture:

• check that upholstered furniture and mattresses carry a fire safety label;
• ask whether delivery is included, as transport can cost more than the item;
• inspect beds and cots carefully for broken parts;
• be cautious with second-hand mattresses unless they come from a reputable reuse scheme.

Spreading the cost safely

If you cannot find what you need free, there are cheaper ways to pay than high-cost credit:

• Universal Credit Budgeting Advance: interest-free, for essential costs such as furniture, if you meet the conditions. Repayments come out of your award, so check what will be left.
• Credit union loan: credit unions often lend small amounts for household items, with interest capped by law.
• Not-for-profit lenders: some community lenders specialise in household goods for people on low incomes. See our guide to not-for-profit loans.

Always compare the APR and the total amount repayable.

Rent-to-own and catalogues: know the real cost

Rent-to-own shops often target people moving into social housing, offering a sofa or bed for a small weekly payment. The FCA introduced a price cap on rent-to-own in 2019, but the total amount repaid can still be much more than buying the item outright, and optional insurance or service cover adds more. Missed payments can lead to collection of the goods.

Catalogue accounts and store cards can also work out expensive if the balance is not cleared quickly. If you are already in debt, speak to a free adviser at StepChange, National Debtline or Citizens Advice before adding another agreement; see also our page on one-off hardship grants.

Signs of a scam

• "Free furniture grants" advertised on social media that ask for a processing fee.
• Loan offers requiring payment up front, or from firms missing from the FCA register.
• Sellers asking for payment by bank transfer for furniture you have not seen.
• Door-to-door sellers offering credit on household goods with pressure to sign the same day.

Furniture checklist

1. List essentials, starting with beds and bedding.
2. Ask your landlord or housing officer about starter packs or furnished options.
3. Apply to your local welfare scheme, ideally with a support worker's help.
4. Search charity grants and reuse projects.
5. Only then consider a Budgeting Advance, credit union or not-for-profit lender.
6. Avoid rent-to-own and catalogue credit wherever possible.