We manage two schemes to help homeless people with a connection to Cambridge to access and afford private rented accommodation.
The Deposit Guarantee Scheme
Under the Deposit Guarantee Scheme we can provide a guarantee to your landlord in lieu of a cash deposit. No cash is involved in the scheme.
In the event that deposit money is required at the end of your tenancy, your landlord can invoice us for the total and you can repay the money to us.
To establish if you qualify for a guarantee one of our officers will ask you about your circumstances and requirements.
Please note that your landlord is under no obligation to accept our guarantee instead of a deposit; we do not hold a list of landlords who will accept our guarantee. Whether a guarantee is given is entirely at the discretion of the council.
The Access Scheme
In certain circumstances the Access Scheme can help homeless people afford accommodation.
Under the scheme we can pay your first month's rent in advance and provide either a rent deposit or a rent guarantee equal to one month's rent.
We can pay your first month's rent to your landlord at the beginning of your tenancy. Depending on your circumstances, the advance can be paid back in instalments or recouped from your Housing Benefit during the last month of your tenancy.
To qualify for the rent deposit or guarantee you must agree to repay the money to us in instalments over the first two years of the tenancy.
Our duty is to people who are eligible for assistance under the terms of Part VII of the Homeless Act 1996, as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002.
Further information
For further information and advice about either scheme, or to arrange a meeting with a housing options and advice officer, please email housing.advice@cambridge.gov.uk or telephone 01223 457918.
