Cambridgeshire rent help and housing payments

Tenants in Cambridgeshire that are facing an eviction due to a rent arrears can turn to a few local organisations for help, including free advice. The programmes that offer financial assistance are limited, but the aim of both the Housing Advice Centres in the area and other agencies, such as Citizens Advice, are to stop homelessness. Find more information about Discretionary Housing Payments for paying future rent expenses and other services below.

For families that live in private sector housing, most of the assistance is provided in the form of advice. This is available from the Housing Teams which are located at the council offices. They will help with everything from form filling to benefits for future rental payments or give advice on barriers such as maximizing income or paying down debt.

The best option may be the Cambridgeshire Discretionary Housing Payment. This can be an option for rental expenses on a home for residents that receive benefits. The government funds from DHP can help pay any shortfall in the Housing Benefit that is being received and the rent that is due for the property. A DHP is effective for future expenses, so a family should apply for this before they begin to struggle.

Cambridgeshire Citizens Advice Bureaus provide advice on a wide range of issues, including how to address rent arrears, debts that at are impacting consumers and tenants. The information is for all people, no matter their income. Specialists from each of the centres listed below help with accessing housing and welfare benefits, offer legal aid at Girton, Sawston and Addenbrookes Hospital, and provide other support.

The CAB office in Cambridge is at 66 Devonshire Road, and the phone number is 0844 848 7979. There is also a North East Cambridgeshire CAB office which also helps with housing payment issues. There are also extension services in Whittlesey and Chatteris. The post is 9 Church Mews, Wisbech, PE13 1HL. The general public can ring 0844 245 1292 for advice.

There are four housing advice centres in Cambridgeshire County. There are many emergency services provided by each of the offices, as follows.

-An assessment will be done to see if someone meets the criteria for rent help from Discretionary Housing Payments or other benefits.
-Free information is given to both private rented sector, mortgaged housing and council tenants.
-The specialists will answer questions on legal issues (or signpost the client) for tenants on a low income in Cambridgeshire that are facing homeless.

The location of these centres is as follows. There is one in East Cambridgeshire at The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, CB7 4PL. The phone number is 01353 665555. Tenants in the Huntingdonshire district can drop in at the Pathfinder House, or call 01480 388218 to reach reception. The last office is at South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, CB23 6EA, and the telephone number is 03450 450 051.

The Cambridge City Council is only for families local to the city. This centre offers free advice to a wide range of families, and also provides financial aid from a rent in advance loan scheme, but this will only be for new properties though. This with a shortfall in their benefits can apply for the Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) from the Cambridge Council.

Others that can seek advice on rent arrears from the local authorities include private sector tenants, those in council homes as well as housing associations. The office, which is at Mandela House, Regent Street, has their Housing Advice Service managed the Home-Link lettings system for landlords. Call 01223 457918 for information.