Most local authorities operate some form of private rented schemes as a way of working with local landlords to provide accommodation for people threatened with homelessness. Each local authority has a duty to provide assistance and advice to anyone threatened with homelessness. Social housing is a scarce resource and local authorities look to the private sector to provide suitable interim accommodation.
Some local authorities will operate offer deposit and rent in advance scheme and others may operate a bond guarantee scheme. Some local authorities will act in a similar fashion to letting agents and will be on hand if required throughout the tenancy and other schemes will pay for a tenant's rent in advance and deposit. A bond guarantee scheme is where the local authority have agreed to pay out at the end of a tenancy if there are any issues similar to a normal deposit, however, this is retained by the local authority until the end of the tenancy.
It is likely that a tenant through a local authority private rented scheme will be in receipt of Housing Benefit, for more information on this click here
The schemes available will vary between local authorities so it is advisable that you contact the local authority where the property is located.