This page provides background and historical information and is under review. See the latest housing research and our growth webpages.
The demand for privately rented accommodation in Cambridge is high because of the number of students, the number of jobs, the cost of property, and because social housing is only available to those most in need.
This all means the cost of private housing in Cambridge is beyond the means of many of its residents.
Housing Needs Survey
A Housing Needs Survey was undertaken by consultants in 2002. It confirms that there is a continuing need for the provision of affordable housing in Cambridge.
The survey found that average household income by tenure excluding benefits varied between £38,871 for owner-occupiers with a mortgage, to £6,667 for council tenants, £8,045 for Housing Association tenants and £21,980 for tenants of a private landlord.
Average property prices in the second quarter of 2002 in Cambridge varied between £321,949 for detached houses, £201,669 for semi-detached, £180,567 for terraced and £130,090 for flats and maisonettes.
The survey found a gross affordable housing requirement of 1,623 dwellings a year and a yearly supply of affordable dwellings (mostly relets) of 889 dwellings leaving a net affordable housing requirement of 734 dwellings.
Key worker housing
Housing for local workers, including nurses, teachers, emergency services personnel and other key workers, has been put to the top of the agenda by local Cambridge councils.
Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council published a joint report in 2002:
A full copy of the report is available to purchase for £10 from The Publications Secretary, Cambridge Housing and Planning Research, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, 19 Silver Street, Cambridge, CB3 9EP. Alternatively, a full copy can be viewed at the customer service centre.
A study was also published in 2002 that concentrated on the needs of staff at Addenbrooke's Hospital:
Another key worker housing study published in 2003 identifies actual levels of need by district across the sub-region:
