Housing and rent deposit help from Cambridge City scheme

The council in Cambridge City tries to help the low income and homeless move into private rented housing. Many of the residents of the city find this task difficult to do on their own. Not only can it be hard to come up with the cash for paying a damage deposit, but the lack of affordable flats and homes also makes it difficult to find an accommodation.

The low income can apply for deposit help from the Access Scheme. This is a bond guarantee that a landlord needs to agree too as well. The council will issue the bond to pay for both the deposit and even a portion of first month’s rent, provided the applicant is eligible.

Homeless people can seek help from Cambridge City Council Single Homeless Service – SHS. This programme will not only offer financial aid for housing expenses, but the government authorities will also help the family or individual find a home in the private rented sector. However applicants need to also be aware that the cost of rent is very high in the city of Cambridge, so in many cases the person will be moved outside of the city limits.

Deposit help from the Cambridge City Council

The Access Scheme needs to be applied too. This will provide a bond for paying this upfront cost. It protects the landlord’s property against any future damage. Or if the tenant misses rent payments and falls into arrears, the landlords can make a claim against the bond in those cases too.

Any type of private housing can be obtained using the Access Scheme. The council states that the programmes suitable for individuals seeking self contained, shared, or family accommodation. The home selected will also need to be affordable to live in.

Any financial assistance is only for residents that are local to Cambridge and that are on a low income. Many of the clients are on waiting lists for social housing, but due to the demand and lack of homes, they are threatened with homelessness or unsafe accommodations. The Access Scheme was created by the government to address those challenges.

Before entering into a tenancy agreement, the Cambridge City Council needs to inspect the home. If it is not eligible, then they may refer the person to other landlords that may have homes available to let.

The final responsibility for both paying the deposit and maintaining the home is on the tenant. If the landlord were to ever make a claim with the Cambridge City Council, then the authorities will take legal action to get those funds from the renter.

Assistance for homeless and rough sleepers

The main programme is the Single Homeless Service, or SHS. There are many components to this scheme. Not only will the housing liaison officer help a person find a home to live in (which may be outside of Cambridge City) but it can also help with paying the rent deposit costs on it. While SHS can help the homeless in the city, before they get to that point of being evicted they can contact the local authorities for referrals to rent arrears assistance. This will even stop the need for placement into a shelter.

The aim is to find the client a form of housing to live in as soon as possible. Since this can’t always be done right away, there may be instances in which emergency shelter is used in the meantime. However this is not common as the amount of temporary accommodation in Cambridge City is limited.

For further information on the Access scheme or SHS, the council’s Customer Service Centre can provide advice. The phone number is 01223 457920.